Passenger pressure at Kamalapur Railway Station has significantly eased on Friday after several days of heavy congestion ahead of Eid travel.
Since Monday night, the station had been witnessing an overwhelming rush of passengers. Every platform was crowded, and most outbound trains were packed. In many cases, passengers were even seen travelling on train roofs due to excessive demand.
However, the situation improved notably on Friday. From the morning, trains operated smoothly, with far fewer passengers compared to the previous four days. The station premises also appeared much less congested.
Meanwhile, the Nil Sagar Express was cancelled for the day due to insufficient passengers and operational delays.
According to station authorities, passenger demand typically peaks around the 29th day of Ramadan, as travellers plan their journeys ahead of Eid. Since Eid-ul-Fitr may fall after either 29 or 30 days of fasting, many people schedule their travel based on the 29th day. Additionally, most private offices and businesses close during this period, contributing to the surge in passenger numbers. After that, the pressure gradually declines.
Since early Friday, the station has experienced a relatively calm environment. Despite the reduced crowd, law enforcement personnel remained on duty in adequate numbers. Passengers were allowed to enter the station in phases after proper ticket verification.
Shafiqul Islam, a passenger travelling to Khulna on the Sundarban Express, said he had not initially planned to visit his village. “But since Ramadan is completing 30 days, I decided at the last moment to go home. There are empty seats on the train, and I expect a hassle-free journey,” he said.
Another passenger, Ripon Ahmed, shared a similar experience. “I usually travel to my village in Jhenaidah on the night before Eid. But the moon was not sighted last night, so I set off this morning for Kotchandpur by train. It feels comfortable as there are vacant seats and fewer passengers,” he said.
Ahsan Habib, who was heading to Jamalpur, said he had initially planned not to travel due to traffic congestion and work pressure. “However, as Ramadan is completing 30 days and trains are operating today, I checked online and found that many trains still have available seats. So, I decided to travel with my family,” he added.