At least four million people have left Dhaka cramming buses, trains and ferries at the start of a long holiday for Christmas and the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr, Bangladeshi transport officials said Saturday.
At least six people have been killed so far in road accidents, police and reports said, and one woman crushed to death in a stampede for free clothes distributed to the poor.
Airline officials said there had been a rush for tickets for nearby destinations, including Calcutta, as the 10-day holiday started from Friday.
Trains were running extra services with additional carriages, and ferries and buses were operating non-stop as newspapers reported dangerous overcrowding on both services.
On Friday six people were killed when two speeding buses and a truck collided in the northern district of Bogra, police said.
And another person, the woman, was crushed and 10 others injured in eastern Brahmanbaria as they scrambled to pick up clothes being distributed by a wealthy resident of the area.
Newspapers said the dead woman was identified as 70-year-old Asia Sahrifunnessa. All those hurt were also women.
Patients who could afford home treatment were reportedly checking out of hospitals because of a shortage of staff during the holiday period.
Christmas is on December 25 and Eid Al-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on either December 26 or 27.
On Saturday, Dhaka, a capital of 12 million people normally choked by traffic, was quiet in the wake of the mass exodus. But there were reports of tailbacks on roads leading out of the city.
"At least we will have less pollution during these few days," said businessman and resident Hasan Azad.
Stores opened for last-minute shopping ahead of the holiday, some operating almost around the clock. At night, despite electricity shortages, Dhaka is ablaze with multi-coloured lights.
Some banks and customs department will continue operating to keep exports and imports moving after demands from the business community, banking sources said.
On Christmas Day President Shahabuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed are expected to follow a tradition of visiting the Christian community, which makes up 0.3 percent of Bangladesh's 120 million population.
A spokesman said Ahmed would join mass prayers on Eid day and meet leading figures in Bangladeshi society and professionals at his Bangabhaban presidential palace.
Official sources said Sheikh Hasina's official Ganabhaban residence would by contrast be open for people from all walks of life to enter and exchange greetings with the premier -- DHAKA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
