Desperate Commuters Risk Lives on Train Roofs as Eid Rush Hits Kamalapur

The homebound holiday rush ahead of Eid-ul-Azha reached a frantic peak on Tuesday morning as thousands of passengers packed Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station, many risking their lives by climbing onto train roofs and hanging from compartment doors to reach their destinations.

The severe overcrowding was most visible on the northbound Burimari Express. Nearly half an hour before its scheduled 8:30 AM departure, the train's roof was completely covered with travelers clenching their luggage, while dozens more clung dangerously to the handles of entry gates.

Despite a visible presence of Railway Security Force (RNB) and police personnel who blew whistles and ordered people down, the sheer volume of desperate commuters quickly overwhelmed law enforcement.

Ironically, while some compartments were packed past standing capacity, a few coaches remained relatively accessible. However, many panicked passengers bypassed the platforms entirely to secure a spot on the roof.

"I climbed onto the roof early, assuming the inside would be completely suffocating," said Saiful, a passenger traveling to Rangpur. "By the time I realized there was standing room below, the train was moving and I was trapped up here."

Other commuters cited the perennial shortage of holiday train tickets as their main reason for taking such extreme risks. For those unable to secure bookings through the online app, riding the roof felt like their only option to celebrate the festival with family.

Railway officials acknowledged that passenger pressure during Eid increases manifold, far outstripping the available number of trains and coaches. Authorities have strongly urged the public to refrain from roof-riding and hazardous travel, warning that the practice frequently leads to fatal accidents along the northern lines.