Festive atmosphere indeed!

It seems like days leading up to Eid – people leaving Dhaka in large numbers. But this time, the journey home is for a different purpose. They all are keen to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming national polls.

Today being Friday and election day (December 30) being public holiday, it's an extended weekend for the nation – setting off a vacation mood.

The election atmosphere is, however, tinged with scepticism regarding casting valuable votes, thanks to the ongoing spate of violence and reported intimidation of the opposition candidates.

Yet, they are going home in hundreds. Bus and launch terminals are witnessing sizeable crowds of home-goers and so is the railway station.

“I want to cast my vote; I'm going home but I'm not sure whether I'll be able to do that,” M Hasan, a private service holder from Bogura, told this newspaper at Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal.

Visiting the terminal around 2pm yesterday, several hundred people were seen waiting to catch their buses.

Sadequl Islam was going to his home district Gaibandha. “I have a three-day holiday, so I'll go home. Casting vote is my main purpose.”

Around 100 people were seen in queue at a counter of Ena Paribahan – operating buses from Dhaka to Mymensingh.

“I couldn't cast my vote in the last national election as the lawmaker was elected uncontested. This year I want to cast my vote,” said a madrasa teacher, wishing not to be named, on his way to Iswarganj Upazila of Mymensingh.

Situation was similar in Gabtoli, Sayedabad, and Mohakhali bus terminals, bus operators said.

Mosharref Hossain, general manager of Hanif Paribahan, said people started leaving Dhaka from the first week of December.

“Rush of home-goers gained momentum in the last three-four days, reaching its peak yesterday,” he told The Daily Star.

“It's an Eid-like situation,” he added.

A staffer of Shimula-Kathalbari ferry  terminal said they have been dealing with unusual number of passengers in the last few days.

Taking advantage of the situation, some unscrupulous bus operators have increased bus fare.

“The normal fare for Dhaka [Phulbaria bus terminal] to Shimula ferry terminal is Tk 70 and for air-conditioned (AC) buses, it is Tk 100 but they are charging Tk 100 and Tk 130 for non-AC and AC buses respectively,” Bappi Hossain, a passenger, said.

Sadarghat launch terminal also witnessed a huge rush of passengers.

Badiuzzaman Badal, senior vice-chairman of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carrier's) Association, said people are leaving Dhaka to vote in their constituencies and enjoy respite at home over the holiday.

NC Shaha, station master of Kamalapur Railway Station, said although the station witnessed massive turnout on Wednesday, crowd was not as big yesterday.

Jahangir Alam, a rickshaw-puller from Gaibandha, said many rickshaw-pullers have already left Dhaka.

“Around 200 of us [rickshaw-pullers] stay at a garage in Shahinbagh in the capital. All but six have left Dhaka,” Jahangir said.

“I was supposed to leave Dhaka today but election in our constituency has been postponed as a candidate died,” he said.

Jahangir also said one candidate from Gaibandha has sent buses to take rickshaw-pullers home.