Photo: Collected

DHAKA, March 21, 2026 (BSS) - Despite a cloudy sky and intermittent drizzles on Eid day, a massive influx of visitors was seen at the National Zoo in Mirpur. People of all ages thronged the zoo premises with their families.

Many visitors, after seeing animals like tigers, lions, bears, deer, hippopotamuses, and rhinoceroses, seemed to relive their childhood memories. Visitors said that this year’s long Eid holiday is being celebrated with great joy.

Such scenes were visible from the morning at the zoo. During the long Eid holidays, zoo remains, as always, one of the main attractions among recreational spots in the city.

Authorities have taken strengthened security measures to ensure the safety of the visitors. They expect nearly 150,000 visitors to visit the zoo in a single day.

As the day progressed today, the number of visitors continued to rise. In this kingdom of over 3,000 animals and birds from 137 species, the presence of people of all ages was quite noticeable.

Visitors were delighted watching the antics of monkeys, elephants, bears, and hippopotamuses. In one corner, herds of deer were roaming together, while in another, giraffes stretched their long necks as if welcoming the visitors. There was no shortage of excitement in front of the lion enclosures either. Children were especially thrilled, and even adults seemed to rediscover their childhood joy.

Sumaiya Islam, a visitor from Azimpur, expressed her excitement, saying, “We wanted to visit an open place with the family during the Eid holidays. The children are very happy to see tigers, lions, and so many kinds of birds together. The rainy weather has made it even more pleasant.”

Rafiqul Ahmed, a service holder from Dhanmondi who came with his two daughters, said, “My younger daughter is in class three. I promised to take her to the zoo if she did well in her exams. She did well, so I brought them here. We’ve visited most of the enclosures. The girls were especially fascinated by the snakes.”

Zoo authorities stated that enhanced security arrangements have been put in place for visitors of all ages, including children. Adequate members of the security forces have been deployed to ensure no one faces harassment. They expect several hundred thousand visitors on Eid day, with the number likely to increase further on Sunday (March 22) and Monday (March 23).