File Photo

DHAKA, April 5, 2025 (BSS) - Vehicles are moving at a fast pace. There are no bus helpers calling at every intersection, footpath traders are waiting for pedestrians, silence prevails in the office-court neighborhood and shopping malls are yet to open. 

However, government and private offices will resume tomorrow after a long 9-day holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims.

Visiting different areas of the capital, it was seen today that the number of public transport on streets is much thinner than usual.
 
As the number of vehicles is low, the number of passengers was also lower as there was no pressure of vehicles at the signals. The busiest signals of the capital can be crossed easily. 

CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles for rent were seen waiting for passengers at the intersections. 

When the shopping malls in Gulshan-1 opened, there was not much crowd of buyers. After Eid, shopkeepers and employees were seen exchanging Eid greetings. 

Some could not open their sales accounts even till noon. Many markets in Shantinagar and Malibagh were not seen open. Some shops were open in Gulistan.
 
However, there were no shops on the sidewalks there. Although some shops opened in Baitul Mukarram-Paltan areas, there were not many buyers.

 Shopkeepers were seen spending idle time on their mobile phones.

Jahangir Alam, a bag shopkeeper in Gulistan, said sales were good before Eid as he opened his shop today after Eid. 

However, there was a normal crowd of passengers in the metro rail. Every train was seen bringing passengers. 

The number of passengers at the stations in residential areas was higher than at other stations. 

Shiuli Begum, who came from Mirpur, said, "I am going to visit my relative's house during the Eid holidays. Although the number of passengers on the metro rail is lower than on the road, it is very comfortable to travel because of the AC".

Saiful Islam, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver standing at Malibagh intersection, said he went out with a car Friday and today but he didn't get sufficient passengers.

A traffic policeman on duty at Shahbagh intersection said, "There is less pressure on the road as there are fewer cars. We do not have to stand on the road with much difficulty".