Pohela Boishakh: Metro rail eases travel, but balloon ban upsets children

Pohela Boishakh, the festival of Bengali life, is celebrated with great fervour as people welcome the Bengali New Year with various festivities. Traditionally a village celebration, this joyous occasion is now embraced with pride in the city as well. On Sunday morning and evening, TSC and Shahbagh stations were bustling with activity as many people opted for the metro rail to participate in the Mangal Shobhajatra. The evening saw even more crowds, with festival lovers thronging the stations throughout the day. Residents of the capital enthusiastically participated in cultural events such as Mangal Shobhajatra and programs at Ramna Batamul, along with visits to Suhrawardy and Ramna Park. Adding to the Boishakhi joy, the metro rail provided extra relief for festival-goers travelling to Shahbagh and Ramna with their families. However, the return journey saw children's joy dampened by the strict rules of the metro rail. According to metro rail regulations, items containing gas are prohibited inside the station. Many parents, unaware of this rule, had purchased balloons for their visiting children, only to be denied entry by security personnel at the station gate. Understandably, the children were upset by this turn of events. Niamul Karim, a resident of Mirpur’s Kazipara area, shared his positive experience, mentioning: "I participated in the morning procession with confidence knowing that the metro rail was operational. I boarded the metro rail from my home and returned to Shahbagh without any hassle." While waiting in line for metro rail tickets in the evening, Rupa expressed her relief, saying: "Getting a metro rail ticket is challenging, but once you have it, there are no worries. Before coming, I was concerned about the return journey. Buses were overcrowded, and there were long traffic jams." Disappointed over leaving the balloon behind and deciding against riding the metro rail, baby Amir's father Saifur Rahman explained: "We were unaware that balloons cannot be taken on the metro rail. While we understand, children may not. Hence, I'm reluctantly surrendering the balloon."
Published on: 2024-04-14 18:17:33.095046 +0200 CEST