City is still in Eid mood
City inhabitants returning to the capital after celebrating Eid in their respective localities. They wait at bus stations, launch terminals and railway stations in the city for passenger vehicles like CNG-run autorickshaws and taxis. Photo: STAR
The huge clock of Dhaka City Corporation struck 12:00 noon. The usually busy corridors of the corporation looked deserted yesterday -- the first working day after a five-day Eid vacation. Like most other government offices in the capital, activities at the DCC were yet to get back the normal pace. “The corridors become crowded every day with city-dwellers and DCC staff. They are empty today as it's the first working day after the Eid,” said Abdur Rahman, acting chief public relations officer of DCC. This year, officials enjoyed a five-day holiday, as a two-day weekly holiday was added with the three-day Eid vacation. Many have taken additional leave to spend more time with their families. Attendance at secretariat, Wasa, Shikkha Bhaban and Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (Banbeis) was also thin. Those who joined spent their time mostly by exchanging Eid greetings. Private and public banks also functioned leisurely. “It's a commercial area but there aren't that many transactions today [yesterday],” said Mahbubol Alam, manager of Premier Bank, at his Karwan Bazar office. Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) President Shakil Rizvi said business at the stock market was average. Officials at private and government offices said activities will resume in full swing within a few days. The regular buzz on the city streets was also not there. “There wasn't that much traffic since I started at 6:00am,” said Mahbubur Rahman, a traffic police, at Karwan Bazar intersection around 1:00pm. City's bus, train and launch terminals, however, looked busy as people continued to return to the city from their village home. “I went home the night before the Eid day. I returned hurriedly fearing that the owner of my CNG-run auto rickshaw may rent it out to others,” said Abdul Karim at Mohakhali bus terminal. He went to his home in Jamalpur after one year. Touhiduzzaman, who works at a private company, also returned from Nogaon yesterday even before his official leave ended. He said he got married last month and it was the first Eid in his marital life. He had to come back for emergency official duty. However, a number of passengers complained that they had to pay an unusually high fare to reach their destination, as there was not enough transport on the roads. “I had to hire a CNG-run auto rickshaw for Tk 400 to go to Mirpur, which is much higher than the usual rate,” said Arif Hossain at Sadarghat launch terminal.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
Boy found dead in Ctg monastery
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Crime & Justice
Eid joy marred by tragedy
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh
Sitakunda Blast: Who started the fire?
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Accidents & Fires
Railway’s east zone reels from manpower crisis
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Transport
Barred from rally at Suhrawardy, BNP to hold protest across country tomorrow
13 November 2016, 07:30 AM
Politics
Comments