"I can't wait to see dadu [grandfather]," said Shaon with a mouthful of biscuits, "Last year dadu put me on the back of a cow and I rode the cow. It was a lot of fun."

The five year old was seen at Kamalapur Railway Station waiting with his parents on their way to Dinajpur.

Lit up faces like theirs were everywhere in stations and terminals in the capital.

These people are no strangers to waiting in long queues for trains and buses. They do it every day. But people's wait at the city’s train, bus and launch terminals yesterday was different. Thousands of Dhaka dwellers were waiting to be reunited with their loved ones and familiar faces.

With the country's biggest religious festival probably just a few dozen hours away, thousands started leaving for their homes outside Dhaka since earlier this week.

Eid will be celebrated across the country tomorrow if the moon of the month ofShawal is sighted today. Otherwise, Eid will be the next day (Saturday) ending the month-long fasting in Ramadan.

While the public holidays do not start till Friday, many office-goers left Dhaka taking leave in advance.

"I took leave in advance to avoid the mad rush on the day before Eid," said Nurul Hasan, who was waiting for his train to Dinajpur at the Kamalapur Railway Station, "The sooner I start, the better."

Hasan's wait was longer than expected as the train showed up hours behind schedule. The Ekota Express, which was supposed to leave at 9:50am, finally left with its passengers at 11:30am.

Ekota Express was not the only train delaying. The Silk City Express, scheduled to be at Kamalapur station at 2:40pm to depart for Rajshahi, arrived at the station at 5:00pm.

The delayed trains did little to stem the flow of passengers. Almost all train tickets to leave Dhaka have been sold. A few tickets that remained were being sold at incredibly high prices by scalpers.

"I had to pay Tk 200 for Tk 65 tickets," said Goran resident Ashraf Habib. He bought his tickets from a scalper failing to get advance tickets standing in a queue for eight hours Saturday.

"But at least I have managed to get a ride home," he added with a smile.

However, bus passengers could not muster any smiles.

Thousands queuing at ticket counters in city bus terminals complained of overpriced tickets, long queues and delayed departures.

"I've been standing in the queue for about an hour," said Mushfiqur Rahman, standing among another 70 odd people at Mohakhali terminal waiting for a bus to lamalpur.

Equally long queues were seen in front of almost all the counters of buses heading for Tangail, Sirajganj, and Modhupur among other destinations.

The scenes in Gabtoli and Kalyanpur were not different.

Many passengers alleged that almost all the buses were one or two hours late. "It is not because of lack of buses," said Shajahan of Shyamoli Paribahan in Gabtoli, "The buses are arriving late because of traffic congestion."

Launches, however, left two to three hours ahead of schedule from Sadarghat Launch Terminal.

"As soon as the launches dock, passengers virtually storm the vessels, which become packed in no time. So we have to ask the operators to leave for their destinations," said Sadarghat Port Officer SharifAfzal.

Passengers complained about operators charging heavy fares.

According to a statement of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, the fare for Dhaka to Barisal on deck is Tk 80-120 per person, Tk 300 to 350 for luxury chair class, Tk 700 for single cabin, Tk 1000-1200 for double cabin and Tk 1,500-2,000 for VIP cabins.

But ahead of Eid the fare is 180 to 200 on deck, Tk 400 to 500 for luxury chair, Tk 800 to

1000 for single cabin, Tk 14,00 to 1600 for double cabin and Tk 2,000 to 2,400 for VIP cabin.

A passenger of MV Pubali, which plies between Dhaka and Patuakhali, alleged the launch operators charged Tk 200 from him for a spot on the deck. "But I can't find any room to sit. I don't know how much sufferings I will have to endure in the journey," he added.

Badiuzzaman Badal, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carrier's) Association, denied allegation of charging high fare, "All year round we operate launches with the lowest fare to compete with the other launches but during Eid we charge fare according to the BIWTA rate. That is why it seems that the launch owners are charging high."

Many were seen using little boats to reach vessels anchored in the middle of the Buriganga just to secure a space on deck before the launch docked and people rushed for space.

Law enforcement agencies have set up monitoring cells at train, bus and launch stations. Passengers welcomed the law enforcers' presence and their assistance at the terminals. Many, however, complained that there were pickpockets and snatchers in terminals.

Despite all the problems, worries and fears, all major stations and terminals in the capital had a sense of excitement in the air as the delight of people heading home to see their loved ones and spend Eid with them overrode everything else.