It was a different Gazipur on Tuesday morning, the day of the city corporation election.
The usually clogged streets that made commuting a nightmare for many were mostly empty.
Commuters had to wait for a long time for public transportation, and many were seen walking to their destinations after failing to catch rides.
Three wheelers that usually occupy the city streets every other day, were nowhere to be seen in the morning hours.
Schoolteacher Mamtaj Begum, waiting for a rickshaw at Shibbari intersection, said she had been looking for a ride for more than half an hour.
“I need to go to Chandana intersection but there are no rickshaws. One or two of them are coming this way from time to time but they are occupied,” she said.
Keya Khatun, like many others, had to shelve her travel plans. “I wanted to travel to Rajbari from Joydebpur but there are no vehicles. I have waited here for a long time and now I am going back home,” she said.
The government authorities have declared the day of the vote a holiday in the city corporation area to ensure hassle-free balloting.
Autorickshaw driver Jahangir Alam said many of his fellow drivers had gone to cast votes. Many others decided not to go out for the day thinking they would not get passengers, as it is a holiday.
Ismail Hossain, a resident of the city’s Rajbari area, said a two-kilometre stretch from Shibbari intersection to Jorapukur was usually plagued by severe traffic snarls.
“It takes about an hour to cross the area on other days. But today, the road’s empty,” he said.