As the Eid-ul-Fitr festival approaches, the Bangladesh Railway has opened online ticket sales to ensure smooth travel for passengers returning to their hometowns. On Saturday, 7 March, travellers gained access to advance tickets for journeys scheduled on 17 March, marking the fifth day of pre-festival ticket sales.
This year, the railway has made 100% of advance ticket bookings available online, eliminating in-person counter sales to streamline the process. To reduce server congestion, ticket sales are staggered according to different regions.
Western region trains: Ticket sales began at 8:00 AM.
Eastern region trains: Ticket sales will start at 2:00 PM.
According to railway authorities, tickets for the days leading up to 17 March have already been sold as follows:
| Advance Sale Date | Travel Date |
|---|---|
| 3 March | 13 March |
| 4 March | 14 March |
| 5 March | 15 March |
| 6 March | 16 March |
| 7 March | 17 March |
| 8 March | 18 March |
| 9 March | 19 March |
Meanwhile, return journey tickets after Eid will also be sold in advance, starting from 13 March. The return ticket schedule is:
| Sale Date | Return Journey Date |
|---|---|
| 13 March | 23 March |
| 14 March | 24 March |
| 15 March | 25 March |
| 16 March | 26 March |
| 17 March | 27 March |
| 18 March | 28 March |
| 19 March | 29 March |
Railway officials have emphasised that early booking is essential due to the anticipated high passenger demand during the festival. Travellers are advised to complete their purchases online and to remain flexible regarding departure times and train routes to avoid congestion at busy stations.
To accommodate the increased traffic during Eid, the Bangladesh Railway has also taken measures to enhance service capacity, including adding extra coaches to popular routes and increasing train frequency wherever possible. These steps aim to ensure safe, efficient, and comfortable travel for passengers heading home for the festive celebrations.