With the Eid-ul-Fitr just around the corner, Dhaka city now bears an empty look as hundreds of thousands of city dwellers have left for their home towns to celebrate one of the biggest festival in the Muslim community with their near and dear ones.
Expect for roads surrounding the big shopping malls and the exit points of the capital, most streets in the capital witnessed thin vehicular movement till yesterday afternoon. Most busy areas in the capital, such as commercial hub Motijheel, Farmgate intersection, Jatrabari and Mohakhali saw little traffic movement till afternoon. However, rush of long route vehicles increased as the day progressed.
Many residents were seen rushing to major shopping malls and markets for last minute shopping for Eid-ul-Fitr. However, most commuters complained of a shortage in public transports in the city since morning. They also alleged that most city service buses were busy making short-trips to nearby places from the capital, such as Mymensingh, Paturia and Maowa to earn some extra money.
Meanwhile, the number of CNG-run auto rickshaw and rickshaws were higher than normal, although commuters alleged most drivers were asking double or triple the normal fare, taking advantage of the situation.
Talking with Dhaka Tribune, Ali Mohammad, a seasonal rickshaw puller from Bogra who came to Dhaka one month ago, said, “Every year, 12-13 men from my village come to the city to pull rickshaw as the fare goes high during the Eid vacations. We will go back home after Eid.”
A CNG-auto rickshaw driver Momin said: “People are now in a hurry to reach launch or bus terminals on time. They do not hesitate to pay more during the rush.” He, however, termed the extra fare as an “Eid bonus.”
Apart from that, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has adopted special measures to ensure security of residences and business establishments sensing a possibility of a rise in criminal activities as most city dwellers left the capital keeping their houses locked.
“Dhaka will go under a security blanket when you will celebrate Eid with relatives in your villages. We will make security arrangement so that city dwellers find their belongings secured, as it was, when they return to the city,” said DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam while addressing a press conference at DMP Media Center in the capital yesterday.
According to DMP, more than 50 lakh people were expected to leave the capital ahead of Eid this year and more than 10 lakh of houses will remain vacant during the vacation.
“We have a security plan. We have talked to locals, community security associations, owners’ association of several shopping centers. Besides, we have talked with security guards of apartments to know what we should do to ensure security of locked houses and shops,” Monirul, who is also the DMP spokesman, added.
He said that the petrol teams of DMP will keep continuous contact with the security guards, local people to monitor the situation. Besides, number of petrol teams will be increased.
The big shopping centers and offices will be kept under CCTV camera surveillance.