Fewer inter-city buses left Chattogram for Dhaka today as passengers in the port city are apparently staying away from the capital before BNP's divisional rally, set for tomorrow.

Only 12 buses departed for Dhaka, whereas normally there are at least 30 trips to Dhaka each day, Mohammed Asif, manager of Unique Bus Counter at AK Khan area, told The Daily Star.

Fewer passengers than usual have been travelling on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, he said.

Many empty buses were lined up at AK Khan bus counter.

AKM Mohiuddin, a Dhaka-bound passenger, said the driver was waiting for additional passengers, and so those who had arrived for the journey on time had to wait an hour.

Jane Alam, manager of Dream Line's bus counter in the area, said some buses could not leave at the scheduled time due to lack of passengers.

"One of our buses started for Dhaka with only three passengers," he claimed.

Rabiul Islam, a driver of the Dream Line service, said usually it takes 30 minutes to fill up the seats, but today it took more than one hour due to a decline in the number of passengers.

Manjur Alam Chowdhury, president of Chattogram District Road Transport Owners Group, said there are no obstacles on the Chattogram-Dhaka route. But the number of passengers has decreased, he added.