Millions head home at the start of Eid

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DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Millions of Muslims in Bangladesh returning to their homes from larger cities as the holy month of Ramadan ends are taxing transit systems, officials said.

In Dhaka, the country's capital, officials said transportation systems were being strained by Muslims exiting the city to celebrate Eid al-fitr at their homes, EuroNews reported.

Witnesses at railway stations said platforms were chaotic as thousands of people tried to jump onto the roofs of trains.

While people waited in long lines to buy ferry tickets to leave Dhaka, many rowboats crowded the Buriganga River, filled with people trying to board a ferry after it left port, EuroNews said.

In Karachi, Pakistan, Friday markets were crammed with customers preparing to celebrate the first day of Eid, which begins Sunday, after a month of fasting.

"We have to buy, that's why we are buying things at high tourist rates," one woman said. "They should have much lower prices because every type of customer comes here and buys things but still the rates are very high."

The first wave of departures began Friday evening and many travelers told GeoNews they thought they were exploited by transportation providers through direct and indirect fees.

"Since they see that we are going with the family to celebrate Eid in [our] hometown, these transporters even charge for the luggage," one passenger at a Faizabad bus station said.