Staff Correspondent:

Holidaymakers have begun returning to Dhaka after an extended 10-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha.

Alongside road transport, many are also arriving via trains from various parts of the country.

At Kamalapur Railway Station on Friday, the fourth day of the post-Eid return rush, many were arriving in Dhaka with their families or alone, carrying their belongings. For some, returning to the hustle and bustle of city life brought a sense of melancholy.

This year, the government announced a 10-day Eid break from Jun 5 to Jun 14. Many private organisations, including banks and NGOs, followed suit, granting extended leave as well.

Riyazul Islam, a private-sector employee who returned to Dhaka from Chattogram, said: “I went home to celebrate Eid. I’ve returned to Dhaka after the long break. While the journey to my hometown was a bit troublesome, the return trip was smoother. That said, there was a significant rush of passengers.”

Shahida Begum, who returned from Sylhet, expressed a sense of sadness. “There’s always a quiet joy that the anticipation of going home fuels before Eid. But once the festival ends, the thought of returning makes the heart heavy. Still, for the sake of work and livelihood, we have to return.”

Tahmid Hossain, a university student who came back from Rangpur, said: “Whenever I go home for the holidays, I never feel like coming back. It’s always a bit depressing. But I have to return. Though the university hasn’t reopened yet, I tutor students so I can’t stay away. So, here I am.”

Kamalapur Station Manager Sazedul Islam said that 10 intercity trains arrived at the station on Friday morning, all on time and without disruption.

To accommodate the mass holiday travel during Eid, the Ministry of Railways deployed five additional pairs of special trains, operating 10 in total. To ensure a steady supply of sacrificial animals to Dhaka, three “cattle special” trains also ran over two days.

The return train trips are set to continue until Jun 15.

Meanwhile, due to a recent rise in COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Railways urged passengers on return journeys to follow health guidelines and wear masks. However, very few passengers had masks on.