Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance tickets on July 20, while private bus operators will start it from July 14 to facilitate holidaymakers ahead Eid-ul-Fitr.

However, private launch operators may start the sale on July 20. But the decision is yet to be finalised, said officials of launch owners' association.

Train tickets of July 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 will be distributed on July 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 respectively at important railway stations across the country, said Railway Minister Mazibul Hoque at a press conference in the capital's Rail Bhaban yesterday.

Around 18,000 advance tickets will be sold daily, the minister said.

Besides, return tickets of July 31, August 1,2,3 and 4 will be distributed on July 27,28,29,30 and 31.

One sixty-six new bogies will be launched to manage the Eid rush, the minister informed. Passengers can also buy tickets online, railway officials said.

About bus fare, Romesh Chandra Ghosh, senior vice president of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association, said action will be taken against operators who will charge extra during the Eid rush.

The government-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will fix a date on next Thursday for starting their bus ticket sale.The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) will hold a meeting within two days to fix the dates for steamer ticket sale, said its Chairman Mizanur Rahman.