1.7cr SIM users leave Dhaka in 7 days, 44 lakh return
A staggering 1.7 crore mobile SIM users left Dhaka during the first seven days of the nine-day Eid holiday period, while 44 lakh users returned to the capital during the same timeframe.
This revelation was made by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the regulatory authority overseeing the telecommunications sector, on Saturday (April 5).
The data is based on an analysis of mobile network activity, tracking SIM users who "left Dhaka" and "entered Dhaka" between March 28 and April 3.
According to the findings, a total of 44 lakh 40 thousand 279 people entered Dhaka, while 1 crore 7 lakh 29 thousand 155 people departed the cityduring this period.
Mass exodus overwhelms daily arrivals
The analysis highlights that significantly more people left Dhaka than those who arrived each day. The highest exodus occurred on March 30, when 23 lakh 94 thousand 461 people left Dhaka, while only 4 lakh 91 thousand 88 people entered the city on the same day.
In contrast, the largest influx of people returning to Dhaka was recorded on April 3, with 9 lakh 98 thousand 579 people entering the capital. However, even on this day, approximately 8 lakh people left Dhaka, underscoring the ongoing movement dynamics during the holiday period.
Operator-based insights
The data also provides operator-specific insights, revealing that a significant portion of customers from major telecom providers such as Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, and Teletalk left the capital daily. Notably, over 63 lakh 75 thousand Grameenphone users alone exited Dhaka during the seven-day period, highlighting the scale of migration facilitated by the country's largest mobile network provider.
Urban exodus and holiday trends
The massive outflow of people from Dhaka during the Eid holidays reflects the annual trend of urban residents traveling to their hometowns or rural areas to celebrate with family.
While the departure numbers far exceeded arrivals during most days, the gradual return flow began picking up toward the end of the holiday period, peaking on April 3.
This mass movement underscores the importance of robust transportation infrastructure and effective crowd management strategies to handle such large-scale migrations safely and efficiently.
It also raises questions about the preparedness of mobile operators and regulatory bodies to manage network congestion during peak travel times.
As millions of people continue to move in and out of the capital, ensuring seamless connectivity and addressing potential challenges remain critical priorities for both telecom operators and policymakers.