Many people have left Dhaka to celebrate Eid with their families in their hometowns or villages, resulting in deserted roads since the day before Eid, with only a few buses operating on the main roads and the usual traffic congestion absent, while battery-operated autorickshaws freely navigate the empty streets.
On Wednesday morning, the third day of Eid, areas such as Gulistan, Motijheel, Shantinagar, Kakrail, Paltan, Babubazar, Malibagh, Shahbagh, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Rampura, Badda, Kuril, Newmarket, and Dhanmondi experienced such scenes, reports Bangla Tribune.
The traffic police are experiencing a leisurely time while battery-operated autorickshaws roam the empty streets.
The traffic pressure on almost all roads in the capital was low, and although some buses were running, there was a shortage of passengers.
Many permanent residents of Dhaka who stayed in the city for work were seen taking short trips with their families, often opting for battery-operated autorickshaws for transportation.
While a few buses were running on the main roads, the number of passengers was very low, and most seats were vacant.
As a result, passengers had to wait for a long time at bus stops.
Passengers from multiple buses at Gulistan's Golap Shah Mazar said that under normal circumstances, it would take more than two hours to reach the airport due to traffic jams.
However, during the Eid holiday, they were reaching their destination in just 30 minutes.
Sohail, a bus driver for Shikor Paribahan, which operates between Jatrabari and Shewrapara via Mirpur, said that passenger numbers are always low during Eid; however, he decided to operate the bus to earn some extra income.
Despite fewer passengers, the seats were mostly vacant, he said. "With less pressure, it is possible to reach the destination more quickly."
There were some exceptions, as delays that were previously caused by traffic jams are now occurring due to a shortage of passengers at bus stops, he added.
One passenger travelling from Jatrabari to Mohammadpur by Trans Silva bus said: "Before Eid, we were delayed due to traffic jams, but now the delay is because there are fewer passengers."
There have been frequent disputes between passengers and transport workers due to this, he said.
Abdul Momin, a driver of VIP Paribahan travelling from Azimpur to Gazipur, mentioned an incident where a passenger from Sobhanbagh was asking to stop the bus to get off with their family.
At that time, there were at least 20 vacant seats on the bus, he said.
He also said: "When there are so few passengers, the fuel costs won't even be covered. So, I explained to them, and they sat back down."
Although there are fewer buses, battery-operated autorickshaws are dominating the streets, he added.
Businessman Abdul Hannan, who was travelling with his family to the National Zoo in Mirpur, said: "The roads are empty, so we thought we could reach quickly. That is why we chose a battery-operated autorickshaw. Moreover, because the seats are larger, three people can comfortably travel together."
As a result, there is an abundance of auto-rickshaws on the roads, he said.
On the other hand, the reduction in traffic congestion has resulted in most traffic signals being left unmanned by the police.
In some areas, a few traffic officers are present but are spending their time engaging in conversation.
Abdul Ahad, a traffic police officer in charge at Gulistan's GPO intersection, said: "Under normal circumstances, at least three officers would be assigned to this spot, and we would struggle to manage. But during the Eid holidays, since the roads are empty, only one officer is on duty."
However, despite fewer buses, the streets are filled with battery-operated autorickshaws, so the police have to remain cautious, the officer said.
He said: "With empty roads, these vehicles sometimes travel at reckless speeds, and there is a risk of accidents."
