Following the one-day Pahela Baishakh holiday, all government and private offices reopened as usual on Tuesday. As a result, working people were seen rushing to their destinations from early morning.Although the streets of Dhaka witnessed a significant number of office-goers, the number of public transport vehicles was relatively low during the morning hours. While some traffic congestion was observed at certain bus stops, no major traffic jams were reported. However, slight crowding was noted in some areas.The situation was monitored through on-site visits to Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, Agargaon, Farmgate, and Karwan Bazar, as well as via Google Maps.Commuters began gathering at bus stops even before 8 am. Despite the early rush, the number of public buses was limited. Although traffic volume gradually increased throughout the day, it remained lower than that of a typical working day. As a result, many passengers were seen crammed into buses, with some even hanging from the doors in an effort to reach their destinations.

Congestion was notable in the early hours but eased as the day progressed. While the number of public buses remained insufficient, the presence of private vehicles was comparatively high.

The shortage of buses caused significant inconvenience for many commuters. After long waits, those who managed to board often found the buses overcrowded. Many were forced to rely on alternative, and often more expensive, modes of transport such as rickshaws, motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, or ride-sharing services.

Imtiaz Hossain, commuting from Kallyanpur to his office in Banani, said he had to hire a motorcycle after failing to catch a bus. “There seemed to be fewer buses on the road today,” he said. “I waited for quite a while, but time was running out. I had no choice but to take a motorcycle.”

Md Ehsan, who was heading to Mohakhali from the Shyamoli bus stop, said he was unable to board several buses due to overcrowding. “I’m just standing here waiting. There’s no room to even step onto the buses. I think I’ll have to look for another option,” he said.

When asked whether the number of buses seemed fewer, he replied, “It feels a bit less than usual. And during office hours, buses are always overcrowded. Sometimes they don’t even stop at the designated points. Even if one passenger gets off, ten try to rush in.”