City yet to be in work mode after five-day Eid vacation
The ever-so-busy capital is yet to regain its usual state, as city dwellers are still returning after five days of Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
All offices -- including government, semi-government and private ones, banks and other financial institutions -- reopened yesterday after the holidays. Festive mood was prevailing at most offices.
Most shopping malls, business centres, schools, colleges and universities, however, were not open and will take a few days to resume operations.
For some, the vacation extended to nine days, as many holidaymakers took leave for two days -- June 2 and 3 -- leading up to the official Eid holidays starting from June 4.
This year, officials enjoyed a five-day vacation, as weekly holiday (Friday and Saturday) was added to the three days of Eid. Many have taken additional leave to spend more time with their families.
Attendance at the Secretariat, the administrative hub of the country, was thin as many officers and employees did not turn up. Those who showed up at work were seen exchanging pleasantries and Eid greetings with colleagues.
Officials said, operations at government offices will resume in full swing within a few days.
The atmosphere at Finance Ministry, Economic Relations Division and other related departments, however, is different as staff of those offices are busy in budget-related activities.
The regular schedule of office (9am to 5pm) resumed on Sunday after being curtailed for the month of Ramadan.
Dhaka’s commercial hub Motijheel, kitchen market in Karwan Bazar, and entry point Jatrabari were not buzzing with people and commuters as seen on regular work days.
Traffic at the otherwise busy intersections including Farmgate, Mohakhali, Shahbagh and Gulistan was also sparse yesterday.
City dwellers who did not leave the capital still got to enjoy a Dhaka free of traffic congestion, noise and crowds yesterday.
Amusement parks in the city are still packed with visitors as people with their family members went there to have a good time. People also thronged movie theatres to enjoy Eid releases on the big screen.
Dhaka-bound buses, trains and launches were overloaded with people returning to the capital after celebrating Eid back in their home districts.
The journey of holidaymakers was somewhat hassle-free compared to the recent past as there were fewer gridlocks and sufferings on the highways.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia yesterday greeted his colleagues, lauding their outstanding performance in discharging duties during the Eid vacation.
“Around two crore city dwellers could enjoy the Eid holidays in peace because of your sincere and utmost professional service. There was no lack of security. No major crime took place during this long vacation,” he said at an Eid reunion in DMP headquarters yesterday morning.
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