As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, Dhaka’s main river port, Sadarghat Launch Terminal, is slowly regaining its familiar rhythm. Today (16 March), the last working day before the festival, saw a noticeable rise in passengers, while launch workers, porters, and labourers moved with purposeful energy across the bustling terminal.
Officials said the full tide of travellers had yet to arrive, but the crowd is expected to swell significantly from tomorrow (17 March).
From all corners of the city, travellers gathered at Sadarghat, bound for southern districts such as Barishal, Bhola, Chandpur, and Patuakhali. Porters and labourers busied themselves more than usual, and families and students returning home for Eid were particularly visible.
Many chose to start their journeys early to avoid peak crowds and last-minute rushes. Normally, one or two launches operate on the Barishal route, but rising demand has pushed the number to four. Officials predict further crowding from this evening.
On the Dhaka–Barishal route, deck seats cost Tk300, single cabins Tk1,200, and double cabins Tk2,400, while VIP cabins range from Tk6,000 to Tk10,000.
On the Dhaka–Muladi and Bhasan Char routes, deck fares are Tk400, with cabins between Tk1,000 and Tk2,000. Chandpur-bound launches charge Tk200 for decks, and Tk500–2,000 for cabins.
Jami Uddin, ticket master for the Al Borak launch, said decks remain fairly empty for now, with a few cabin passengers, but the rush will pick up from this evening.
Abdul, staff on a Char Fasson-bound launch, added that launches are almost empty most of the year, and only around Eid do the terminals start buzzing like old times.
Passengers like Saiful Islam, travelling to Barishal with family, arrive early to beat the crowd. “We set off early to dodge the rush,” he said, noting fares remain unchanged. Ashraful Rahman, heading to Bhola, said cabin fares are slightly higher, costing him Tk1,000 for a single cabin.
Officials noted that with the Padma Bridge operational, road travel to southern districts has reduced usual congestion at Sadarghat, yet during Eid and major festivals, some of the old bustle – crowds of passengers and busy workers – return.
AKM Arif Uddin, director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told The Business Standard, “For this Eid, we prioritised passenger convenience, supplying new trolleys for cargo. Crowds are rising slightly today, but with the bridge, the pressure at Sadarghat is no longer what it used to be.”
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