Staff Reporter:
Passenger numbers have increased at metro rail stations across the capital during the Eid holidays, as people returning to Dhaka after the vacation are joined by city residents using the service for leisure trips.
The combined rush has created a busy yet festive atmosphere at the stations.
Visits to Motijheel, Bangladesh Secretariat, Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar metro rail stations on Monday revealed a significant presence of passengers at almost every station.
Many first-time riders were seen expressing excitement about their metro journeys. At the Bangladesh Secretariat station, several children who came with their families from Narayanganj said they were so excited about riding the metro rail that they could not sleep the previous night. They said they were heading to the zoo and planned to use the metro again on their return.
Sanjida Khanam, who came from Cumilla, said she had wanted to ride the metro rail since her marriage and took the opportunity during the Eid holidays to fulfill that wish with her husband.
A passenger traveling from Uttara to Motijheel said that despite the crowd there was no disorder. He noted that many passengers were riding the metro for the first time and their enthusiasm had made the environment lively.
A businessman from Gazipur said his first metro rail journey had been a pleasant experience. Seeing the excitement of children reminded him of his own childhood, he added.
Officials concerned said passenger numbers began to increase from the day after Eid. Currently, trains are departing from Motijheel at intervals of around 10 minutes, and the number of passengers is expected to increase further in the coming days.
Regarding security, officials said adequate numbers of police and Ansar personnel are deployed at each station. Continuous monitoring has so far prevented any incidents of disorder.
Overall, during the Eid holidays, the metro rail has become not only a means of transportation but also an enjoyable experience for city residents.
