Life turns normal as curfew relaxed

The capital experienced almost a normal life yesterday as the government suspended the curfew for 17 hours starting at 6:00am.
Hundreds of people came onto streets and went to markets to start again their daily activities, but government offices were closed because it was a weekly holiday.
The city markets got their regular bustle back. A large number of shoppers were seen in the markets as city residents flocked there to make sure they have enough provisions for the days to come.
Many people gathered at banks to draw money as they apprehended the curfew, which would resume at 11:00pm, might continue for the next couple of days with similar breaks.
Many schools also opened but most of the students were absent due to a sense of uncertainty, while all universities and colleges were closed as the government had shut those down in six divisional cities until further notice.
Traffic situation was also normal in the city. Vehicles were seen on the streets. Inter-district buses also operated from the city's Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Gulistan bus terminals, but no bus left the city for any divisional head
quarters after sunset.
People who had left Dhaka following the violent clashes between law enforcers and students and the ensuing curfew, started to return to the city yesterday morning.
Communications through rail and water ways was uninterrupted allowing people to move in and out of the city.
The indefinite curfew was imposed on Wednesday night in six divisional cities including Dhaka Metropolitan City to contain the student demonstrations under the state of emergency.
RAJSHAHI
Our Rajshahi correspondent reported that traffic returned to streets and people crowded markets there yesterday, due to the relaxation of the curfew.
Hundreds of people who had been stranded at different places due to the sudden imposition of the curfew, hurried to return home, but they suffered badly due to a severe transport crisis at bus terminals and railway stations.
Operators of buses, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles including rickshaws were charging more than twice the usual fares.
After the relaxation of the curfew, hundreds of stranded students of educational institutions rushed to bus terminals and railway stations, and they were seen leaving the city by buses jam-packed inside and even on the roof.
Taking advantage of the situation, transport owners were charging two to three times higher than usual fares. Rickshaws and vans also charged double the fare, the students alleged.
Students of public educational institutions including Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet), Rajshahi Medical College, and Rajshahi Government College had to take shelter in private hostels and other safe places since the institutions had been declared indefinitely closed.