The nine-day Eid holiday officially concluded on Saturday, although many holidaymakers returned to work a day or two earlier to avoid the expected crowds.
On Friday, several bus stations in the capital, including Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Mohakhali, Sayedabad, Jatrabari, Kamalapur Railway Station, and Sadarghat Launch Terminal, experienced a moderate rush as people headed back to Dhaka.
To avoid the anticipated congestion on the last day of the holiday, many opted to return earlier. Jubayer, a private-sector employee, said, “I returned a day earlier as the last day would be crowded. The journey was smooth with no traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.”
Transport owners noted that the long holiday allowed for relatively hassle-free travel both to and from the villages. They also predicted that passenger pressure would be higher on the final day of the holiday.
Despite the return of many people, Dhaka’s streets remained relatively calm, offering residents a break from the usual congestion.
Public transport saw fewer passengers than normal, though personal vehicles, rickshaws, and motorcycles were visible at recreational spots around the city. Some residents took advantage of the quieter roads to tour various parts of Dhaka.
Motiur Rahman, a Malibagh resident, expressed his enjoyment of the calm atmosphere, saying, “If Dhaka were always this empty, people wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed.”
The government had approved the extended nine-day holiday for its employees, running from March 28 to April 5, to allow for the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, which took place on March 31. The holiday period saw a rush of people heading home starting from March 26.
