As travelers flock to their village homes for the extended holidays, including Pahela Boishakh, Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka is bustling with crowds. However, amidst the hustle and bustle, passengers scheduled to return home after Eid are enduring extreme hardships as they struggle to secure compartments despite purchasing tickets.
This plight unfolded notably on the Sylhet-bound Jayantika Express train on Friday. Local passengers, gathered at Kamalapur station to avoid the anticipated Eid travel rush or due to previous travel constraints, found themselves frustrated as they clamored for compartments on the Jayantika Express.
Expressing his frustration, one passenger, who had purchased a ticket, lamented, "The Jayantika Express was supposed to depart at 11:30 a.m., but it`s already 12:15 p.m. The authorities seem unaware that compartments are unavailable. Now, they are hastily arranging for compartments. It`s beyond comprehension how irresponsible this is."
Comparing the situation to developed countries, he added, "In developed nations, even a minute`s delay prompts authorities to apologize. Here, despite almost an hour`s delay, our authorities are indifferent. They fail to acknowledge the passengers` suffering. This incident exemplifies how little value passengers hold in our country."
Another traveler recounted, "My ticket indicated a departure time of 11:15 a.m. Despite arriving promptly, by 12:15 p.m., I remained unaware of the departure schedule or the cause of the delay."
When queried about the absence of compartments, the train driver remarked, "I cannot explain why they were unavailable. Compartments have now been installed, and the train will depart soon."
As holidaymakers grapple with uncertainties and delays, the incident underscores the challenges faced by passengers during peak travel periods and the need for better infrastructure and management to ensure a smoother travel experience.
