Bus and launch terminals and railway stations in Dhaka were overcrowded yesterday since morning as thousands of people headed for their village homes to celebrate Eid al-Adha with their families.
About a million people, mostly government and public sector employees and their family members have already left Dhaka on Thursday night, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman said around 6mn city dwellers are expected to leave the capital city to celebrate Eid at their respective village homes.
Of them, he said, around 3.5mn already departed the city by Friday night as the six-day Eid vacation began on Thursday.
He said about 1.5mn holidaymakers left the capital city by Saturday night as the rush to go home reached its peak, with Eid just being two days away.
The DMP official said the remaining people, mostly businesspeople and employees of various shops and showrooms of shopping malls and markets, will leave Dhaka on Sunday and Monday.
Masud said the city dwellers who left Dhaka on Thursday and Friday were stuck on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Tangail highways and ferry ghats due to long tailback. “Some had to spend up to 36 hours to reach their respective destinations.”
Meanwhile, trains, buses and launches leaving Dhaka were packed with home-goers yesterday. Many passengers were seen travelling on bus and train roofs to beat the rush. 
The usual busy city traffic has eased a bit with the exodus of millions of people, but the roads adjacent to both exit and entry points of the capital are still witnessing huge tailbacks.
DMP has taken special security measures to check various types of petty crimes like robbery, burglary and stealing during the Eid vacation, mainly from Eid day evening as large number holidaymakers are leaving the city.
DMP Joint Commissioner Anwar Hossain said patrol will be strengthened alongside random search by setting up check-posts.