Bangladesh Railway and Bus Operators Finalize Advance Ticketing Plans for Eid Travel
Bangladesh Railway has completed preparations for advance ticket sales and passenger transport ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Advance ticket sales for intercity trains will commence on March 14 and continue until March 20. As in previous years, all advance tickets will be sold exclusively online, with no sales at physical counters. Railway Ministry Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan is expected to formally announce this decision on Sunday.
Similarly, the Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association has decided to begin advance bus ticket sales on the same day, March 14. According to the decision, tickets for seven days leading up to Eid, starting from March 25, will be available for purchase in advance. The association’s acting general secretary, Shubhankar Ghosh Rakesh, confirmed that tickets will be sold simultaneously online and at physical counters. However, many bus operators will offer their tickets entirely through online platforms, ensuring availability through both channels.
Rail Secretary Md. Fahimul Islam stated that the Eid travel period has been designated from March 24 to March 30. As per regulations, tickets can be purchased ten days before the travel date. Accordingly, ten special trains have been scheduled to operate on March 27 and 28. One special train will run on March 27, while four additional trains will be available on March 28. Ticket sales will follow this schedule:
- March 14: Tickets for March 24
- March 15: Tickets for March 25
- March 16: Tickets for March 26
- March 17: Tickets for March 27
- March 18: Tickets for March 28
- March 19: Tickets for March 29
- March 20: Tickets for March 30
All advance ticket sales for railway travel will be conducted online.
Bangladesh Railway’s Joint Director General (Operations), Mohammad Nazmul Islam, emphasized that the entire advance ticketing system will be managed online to accommodate the high passenger demand during Eid. Additional coaches will also be attached to intercity trains to handle the increased load.
It is noteworthy that many major bus operators sell the majority of their tickets online, reducing the need for extensive counter sales. Advance tickets for buses can be booked through the online platform Shohoz.com, while railway tickets will be available via the Rail Sheba app or website.
