All the bus and launch operators have raised their ticket prices for the days preceding the Eid and a section of transport workers and brokers are selling tickets at exorbitant prices.

Thousands of people every day rush to Gabtoli, Sayedabad, Sadarghat and Kamalapur to buy tickets. They are forced to buy tickets paying 25 to 50 percent higher prices.

As many as 40 lakh people will leave Dhaka to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones living in villages, sources in the transport associations said.

The law enforcing agencies deployed in the bus terminals, Sadarghat launch terminal and Kamalapur railway station have failed to check the ticket scalping.

SAYEDABAD
Passengers complain the long-route bus operators at Sayedabad bus terminal are selling advance tickets for different routes at higher prices, taking the advantage of the Eid rush.

All the transport companies operating from this terminal to the districts in Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions have raised the fare by at least 25 percent.

"A ticket for Khulna costs Tk 170 but I had to pay Tk 250," said Shamim Reza, a private company official, who is going to Khulna to celebrate Eid along with his family.

For a trip to Choumohoni, passengers are paying Tk 250 to 280 against the usual fare of Tk 220. Tickets for Sylhet and Chittagong routes are also selling at higher prices.

Passengers alleged the ticket scalpers have created an artificial crisis by buying most of the advance tickets. They are now selling them at exorbitant prices.

"This is a common picture of the bus terminals before every Eid. We are held hostage by the operators and brokers," said Abdul Kader who could not manage a ticket for Khulna.

The passengers said the transport companies are just cashing in on the rush for tickets before the biggest festival of the Muslims.

"There is reason for raising the bus fare again which was increased a month ago when petroleum prices were raised," Kader said. "This is just for making high profit."

However, a staff of Shyamoli Paribahan said they were compelled to increase the fare as they have to make up for the loss in the return trips to Dhaka before Eid.

"Most buses return to Dhaka almost empty before Eid. So we have to raise the fare for outgoing trips," he said. "Besides, we have to pay Eid bonus to our staff."

Tanvir Rana, chairman of South Bengal Coach and Bus Owners' Association, said they would take action against any operator if passengers lodge specific complaints.

GABTOLI
The bus operators at Gabtoli terminal in collusion with brokers have created an artificial crisis of tickets for more than 20 north and southwestern districts.

Most of the passengers looking for tickets for November 1 to 3 are returning home empty-handed as the bus counter staff say all the tickers have already been sold out.

However, the brokers are selling tickets charging almost double the usual prices.

"There is not a single ticket available from November 1 onwards," said Abu Taleb who wants tickets for Rangpur. "Only brokers are selling tickets at higher prices."

The bus counter staffs said more than 700 buses leave the terminal for different districts every day but the demand for tickets is much higher, leading to the crisis.

Brokers roaming around the terminal ask the passengers to pay more and buy tickets from them.

The passengers complained that the brokers had bought most of the advance tickets to make quick bucks before Eid. Passengers are compelled to buy tickets from them.

The police deployed at the terminal do not pay heed to the activities of the brokers, the passengers complained. But the patrol police, when asked, denied the allegation.

Sources in the Gabtoli Bus Truck Malik Samity said tickets are being sold from about 150 counters in the terminal for 450 to 500 buses operating daily. During Eid, the number of trips increases to 700 to meet the huge demand.

When asked about the ticket crisis and high prices, Malik Samity official Sheikh Mohammad Aslam said: "This is a normal practice before every Eid."

He said they will incur loss if the fare is not increased, because the return trips are almost empty before Eid. "Moreover, extortion increases during the festivals."

The prices of tickets for the 16 districts in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogra have been increased by Tk 50 to 100 for the pre-Eid trips. Tickets on Barisal, Patuakhali, Chuadanga and Bagerhat routes have also been raised.

A trip to Barisal now costs Tk 280, Patuakhali Tk 300, Chuadanga Tk 280, Bagerhat Tk 380 and Rajshahi Tk 250. The usual fare ranges from Tk 150 to 180 for these districts.

SADARGHAT
Md Al Amin went to Sadarghat on October 26 to book a cabin for a launch trip to Barguna before Eid. He was astonished to know that the fare is Tk 1,200 to 1,400 for a double-bed cabin which was Tk 500 when he came to Dhaka only five days ago.

"If I protest, I won't get a cabin. Because of Eid the demand for cabins has increased and the launch operators are cashing in on this huge demand," he said. "Passengers are forced to pay such a high fare as they are desperate to go to their villages."

Hundreds of passengers, mostly intending to go to the southern districts by launch, every day rush to Sadarghat and face the same situation.

The launch staff said tickets for deck and cabins in Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Galachipa, Pirojpur, Patuakhali and Barguna bound launches have already been sold out.

The fare increased from Tk 150 to Tk 200 for deck, from Tk 500 to Tk 700 for a single cabin and from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,400 for a double cabin, the Barguna-bound passengers alleged.

For Bhola, the fare is Tk 150 for deck ticket, Tk 500 for a single-bed cabin and Tk 1,000 for a double-bed cabin. For Galachipa, Tk 100 is charged for deck ticket, Tk 700 for single-bed and Tk 1,300 for a double-bed cabin.

"There is no scope for bargaining with the launch staff. Most of the passengers are paying the additional amount to get tickets," said Sajib Ahmed, another passenger who was waiting for a ticket for Bhola.

Rashid Alam, another passenger bound for Barisal, said, "We have to face this situation before every Eid. Fare hike is common before these festivals."

According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the launch fares have been hiked to Tk 0.90 per kilometre from Tk 0.85 for distances up to 100 km and 0.75 per kilometre from Tk 0.72 for distances over 100 km.

"We always charge less than the government-approved fares. Besides, we take a number of poor passengers free of cost on every trip," said the owner of MV Balia, when asked about the increased fare. He denied the allegation of pre-Eid fare hike.

"We have received no complaints about exorbitant fare. If we get specific complaints, we will take action," said Sharif Afjal Hossain, a senior assistant director of BIWTA.

KAMALAPUR
Bangladesh Railway will operate special train services on the occasion of Eid from today but most of the passengers said they could not buy advance tickets due to mismanagement and ticket scalping.

The advance tickets were sold during the last five days for outgoing trips from October 30 to November 3, though brokers bought most of the tickets depriving the passengers.

Hundreds of homebound passengers rushed to Kamalapur station to collect tickets during the last five days but only a few of them managed to buy tickets from the counters.

Although extra compartments have been added to almost every train to meet the increased demand of the passengers, the BR could not provide tickets for all.

After waiting for several hours in long queues before the counters, many passengers returned empty handed as the BR staff said tickets had been sold out.

"I came here at 5 in the morning and ticket selling started at 10:00am. At 11:30am they declared that all the tickets are sold out," said Rezwan, who wanted to buy a ticket for November 2.

However, many passengers have bought tickets from the brokers. "From my past experience I know that standing in the queue cannot ensure tickets. I have managed tickets for Noakhali from black market at higher prices," said Illias Uddin, a passenger.

"My relatives have bought tickets from black market for November 1 giving Tk 100 extra per ticket and I had to pay additional Tk 140 for a trip to Sylhet on November 3," said Nahid.

The ticket scalpers are selling tickets is places around Kamalapur station due to the drive by the mobile courts and presence of law enforcers.

"The presence of mobile courts has made the station free from brokers but it could not stop the illegal business," said Touhidul Alam, a banker.

Many passengers had to change their date of journey due to unavailability of tickets for the expected day while many have to look for alternative way to go home.

"I had planned to go home on November 1 but could not mange ticket for that day and have got ticket for November 2," said Adnan Ahmed, a passenger who wishes to celebrate Eid with his family members living in Rangpur.

"We have added one to two compartments to the trains operating from October 30 to November 1 and two to three compartments to the trains on November 2 and 3," said Soleman Shikder, station master, Kamalapur station.

The railway officials admitted that they could not provide tickets for all passengers.