The scene in the capital city of Dhaka changes drastically when the Eid holidays begin. Due to Eid-ul-Azha, schools, colleges, and universities have closed well in advance. The last working day before the Eid holiday was Thursday.
Starting from Friday, over approximately ten million people left Dhaka to share the joy of Eid with their families, changing the entire look of the capital.
Due to the Eid holiday, the main roads and alleys of the city are now almost empty. Public transport is nearly non-existent, and there is no usual traffic congestion. The streets are populated only by a few personal vehicles and rickshaws. Many residents are enjoying roaming around the empty city, finding a sense of relief in the air.
In the afternoon, areas such as Motijheel, Paltan, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mouchak, Banglamotor, Shahbag, Science Lab, Mirpur Road, Rampura, Badda, Kuril, Bijoy Sarani, and Mohakhali, among others, depicted this scene.
Residents of Dhaka say that this holiday is a blessing for those who remain in the city. There is no traffic congestion, noise pollution, commotion, or toxic air.
One can travel from one end of Dhaka to the other without any hassle.
Azmal Hossain was traveling from Agargaon to Kamalapur Railway Station. Unable to find a bus, he took a rickshaw.
He said: "Due to the Eid holidays, there are no buses on the road. So, I am taking a rickshaw for a bit higher fare. Even though it costs more, I can travel comfortably without any traffic jams."
Sohana Mimi, who came from Germany for a vacation, travelled from Mohammadpur to Malibagh by CNG-run autorickshaw.
She said: "Usually, it takes more than an hour to get from Mohammadpur to Malibagh. Today, it only took 15 minutes. Dhaka looks very beautiful when it’s empty. If it were always like this, I wouldn't have gone abroad. I would have stayed in Dhaka."
In the Kakrail area, businessman Mizanur Rahman was standing on the road with his family, waiting for a vehicle.
He said: "Because of traffic jams, I can't visit relatives. During the Eid holidays, the roads are empty. So, I am going to my elder sister’s house with my family. However, due to the lack of public transport, we have to pay extra fare."
At Shahbagh intersection, a student named Fahim said: "The roads of Dhaka are empty. There is no traffic jam. But there is hardly any public transport. There are rickshaws, but you can’t go far by rickshaw. So, I am waiting for a while."
Ujjal Mia, a driver of Savar Transport, was waiting for passengers at the Science Laboratory intersection. He said: "Today, all the roads in Dhaka are empty. However, the number of passengers is very low. So, I have to wait for some time at various intersections for passengers. It's fun driving during the Eid holidays, but since there are fewer passengers, we don't earn much."
Rubel, a driver of Shikor Transport on the Mirpur to Jatrabari route, said: "On other days, it takes more than four hours to travel from Mirpur to Jatrabari. On this holiday, it takes only one to one and a half hours for a single trip. The only problem is the lack of passengers."
Due to the reduced pressure of vehicles on the roads, traffic police officers are performing their duties with some relief.
At the Science Lab area, Traffic Police Sergeant Mahbub Alam said: "During Eid, the number of people in Dhaka naturally decreases. As a result, the roads remain quite empty. However, we are performing our duties with sincerity. Necessary measures are being taken for the convenience of people's movement."
At Asadgate, Sergeant Russell said: "During the Eid holidays, the pressure of vehicles in the capital decreases. The number of private vehicles is higher. However, some people drive motorbikes and cars at excessive speeds in the empty Dhaka. Additionally, there is a risk of increased criminal activity in the empty Dhaka. Therefore, we are on high alert. We are working to control any crime."
