Record-Breaking Demand for Eid Train Tickets: Received 9.8 million hits in 30 Minutes
Bangladesh Railway has commenced the advance sale of intercity train tickets under a special arrangement, considering March 31 as the tentative date for Eid-ul-Fitr. On the third day of this special ticketing process, the railway’s e-ticketing website and mobile app received a staggering 9.8 million hits within the first 30 minutes, as eager travelers attempted to secure their seats. During this period, approximately 26,000 tickets were sold nationwide.
On March 26, a total of 49 trains will depart from Dhaka for the eastern region, offering 13,288 seats, while 57 trains will travel to the western region, accommodating 13,363 seats.
Ticket sales for western-bound trains began at 8:00 AM on Sunday. To streamline the process, Bangladesh Railway has scheduled ticket issuance for western-bound trains at 8:00 AM and eastern-bound trains at 2:00 PM. According to official data, on Sunday morning, 13,363 seats were available for Dhaka to western destinations, with 11,300 tickets sold in the first 30 minutes. Nationwide, 14,444 tickets were sold during this period, bringing the total first 30-minute sales to 25,744 tickets across the country.
High Demand for Train Tickets Amidst Eid Rush
Data from Bangladesh Railway reveals that for March 26, the total number of seats available on trains departing from Dhaka to both eastern and western destinations stands at 26,651, while the total number of seats across Bangladesh is 140,856.
The breakdown of ticket sales within the first hour is as follows:
- 8:15 AM: 8,562 tickets sold from Dhaka, 10,848 nationwide
- 8:30 AM: 11,300 tickets sold from Dhaka, 14,444 nationwide
- 9:00 AM: 12,436 tickets sold from Dhaka, 16,334 nationwide
Sandeep Debnath, CEO of Shohoz.com, the online ticketing service provider for Bangladesh Railway, stated, “In the first 30 minutes alone, we recorded 9.8 million hits on the system. Most users were attempting to purchase tickets for trains departing from Dhaka.”
Advance Ticket Sales Schedule
The Ministry of Railways had previously announced the advance ticket sale schedule through a press release on March 9, signed by Public Relations Officer Rezaul Karim Siddique. The schedule is as follows:
- March 26 tickets available on March 16
- March 27 tickets available on March 17
- March 28 tickets available on March 18
- March 29 tickets available on March 19
- March 30 tickets available on March 20
Additionally, tickets for March 31, April 1, and April 2 will be released based on the sighting of the moon. This year, all Eid journey tickets must be purchased online, with 35,315 advance tickets available daily from Dhaka.
Reduction in Special Eid Trains
In previous years, Bangladesh Railway operated 8 to 10 pairs of special Eid trains. However, this year, the number has been reduced to 5 pairs.
