Dhaka deserted amid Eid hangover

The capital city on Wednesday wore a deserted look - except for the recreational spots - as people thronged there to enjoy the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday with their near and dear ones.

Economic activities remained mostly suspended as shopping malls, eateries, groceries, and roadside tea stalls did not operate due to the absence of customers, in addition to the closure of government offices, banks, and financial institutions.

However, a limited number of kitchen markets and groceries in residential areas remained open and saw poor sales.

People visited various indoor and outdoor entertainment spots, including theatres, theme parks, the zoo, and open spaces like Dhanmondi Lake, Ramna Park, Hatirjheel, and 300-feet expressway in Purbachal.

Six-year-old Junaira Saiyeda came to Dhanmondi Lake with her parents on Wednesday afternoon.

Talking to The Financial Express, she said she had requested her parents to take her somewhere as she got bored staying home and watching TV.

"I enjoyed a boat ride in the lake and fast food in a restaurant nearby," she said, adding she rode metro rail on Tuesday for the first time.

Metro rail drew moderate crowds on Wednesday afternoon as many city dwellers used the country's first ever mass rapid transit system for pleasure trips.

"The crowd is much thinner than normal times, but considering the ongoing holiday, it is large," said an employee at the Secretariat station.

Rickshaw puller Mohammad Ali said Dhaka appeared to be a completely different city due to the limited presence of vehicles as well as no restriction for rickshaws on entering important roads.

"I enjoy earning money as part of my Eid celebrations instead of sitting idle at home," he said, adding he is the breadwinner of a family of five members.

"Not only are people paying moderately higher fares than the usual period, but the congestion-free city streets have also offered scopes to earn more," said Ali.

He also said he would leave Dhaka for his village home in Jamalpur after several days when he has earned a good sum.

Commuters said they could reach their destinations within 25-30 minutes during the Eid holidays, whereas it usually takes between one and one-and-a-half hours to reach Uttara from Gulistan or Motijheel.

But bus drivers and helpers were disappointed with the insignificant number of passengers. They said due to the poor number of passengers, it would be difficult for them to realise operational expenses, including fuel costs and others.

Passengers said the tendency to commit snatching and other crimes on city roads was very low due to the strict surveillance by law enforcement officials.

"We [police] are working hard to ensure the safety and security of the people so that they can happily enjoy the Eid holidays," Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media and public relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Financial Express.

Meanwhile, after celebrating Eid with their loved ones in their hometowns, Dhaka residents started returning to the city on Wednesday.

A noticeable number of passengers returned through the two main entry points - Jatrabari and Sayedabad.

On the other hand, many still left Dhaka on Wednesday to enjoy the holidays with their families and relatives.

A crowd of such people headed out of Dhaka via Jatrabari and Sayedabad.

Eid holidays started on March 28 and were extended till April 3 (today) as per a government order.

Those returning to Dhaka include private sector employees, businesspeople, and people of other professions. Apart from paying extra fares, they did not face many difficulties during the return journey.

Around 9am, Shariful Islam, who travelled with his family, got off the bus at the Sayedabad Janapath intersection. He said, "I went to my village to celebrate Eid with my parents."

The city is expected to bustle again when offices resume on April 6.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com, saif.febd@gmail.com