A sudden curfew, imposed across the country since midnight past Friday against the backdrop of violent student protests demanding reform of quotas in government jobs, has left people who are in dire need to leave Dhaka, stranded at railway stations, launch and bus terminals.
No bus, launch or train left Dhaka during the curfew period that would initially continue until 10:00am on Sunday.
At least 135 people died in clashes since July 16 during quota protests across the country.
Some of the stranded people said on Saturday that they were not aware of the curfew while others said that they knew about the current situation but urgent needs, including death of close relatives, compelled them to leave their present residences for destinations in different districts.
Some of them said that they came to the terminals on Friday night when the curfew was imposed and became stranded at the terminals.
They said that they had to reach the terminals amid a volatile situation by spending double or triple amounts than are normal and it was difficult to stay at the terminals due to shortage of money and food as shops were within the purview of the curfew and kept closed.
Mahmuda Begum, a garment worker from Tangail town, said in the afternoon that she, along with her two children and two relatives, reached Sadarghat Launch terminal at about 11:30am by auto-rickshaws, engine-driven vans and rickshaws from his native town to go his home in Barishal to see his father鈥檚 body for the last time.
She said that they waited until 8:00pm but there was no hope to get any launch to go to Barishal.
鈥榃e will have to go back to Tangail,鈥� she said.
Nazrul Islam, a resident of Kachuakhali under Lalmohan in Bhola, came to Dhaka for personal reasons two days ago and came to Sadarghat Friday night, passed the night at the terminal but found no launch to go to Bhola until 9:00pm on Saturday.
鈥業 will pass this night here and try to get alternative ways to go home as I have no relatives in Dhaka to stay with,鈥� he said.
Over 100 people were seen waiting at different jetties of the terminal in the afternoon to leave for different destinations.
Abdul Ahad, a resident of Mongla in Bagerhat, said that he went to Gazipur for personal reasons four days ago and came to BRTC Central Bus Terminal at Phulbaria on Saturday morning amid fear.
鈥楩ear gripped me as I witnessed law enforcers and protesters in Dhaka. I was questioned by law enforcers at three places in Dhaka on my way to the terminal,鈥� he said.
鈥業 have an urgent family need to go to Chattogram. Failing to go by bus, I have come to the railway station and found no way to go home,鈥� SM Safayetullah who lives in Old Dhaka said at the Kamalapur railway terminal.
鈥楾hough I saw a good number of curious people and children playing football and cricket at places on roads, police stopped me at two places and army personnel at three places wanted to know my whereabouts and destination,鈥� he said.
鈥業 will have to endure some financial loss as it is not possible to go home amid the curfew,鈥� he said, adding that he will have to remain stranded in Dhaka until the situation returns to normalcy.
Gyanendra Kumar, an on-duty Ansar member at the terminal said that the people who came to Kamalapur Railway Terminal went back as rail movement remained suspended due to the curfew.
