Eid exodus leaves Dhaka streets unusually quiet

Millions of people have already left the capital Dhaka to celebrate the holy Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. As a result, most of the city's usually busy roads are nearly empty. Major roads have little to no traffic congestion, and even the alleys have fewer vehicles.

This has made travel within the city smoother and hassle-free. The city’s rare emptiness offers a brief respite from its usual chaos, though vehicle movement remains notably low.

A visit to different parts of the city on Sunday (30 March) revealed this scenario. Around 10:30 am, the usually crowded Shahbagh intersection was seen with no traffic pressure. The main roads were mostly occupied by rickshaws.

With minimal vehicle movement, traffic police officers were seen managing their duties from inside their designated boxes. One officer mentioned that since there was no traffic congestion, their duty was relatively easy, but the pressure might increase later in the afternoon, requiring them to step onto the roads.

Meanwhile, as today is the day before Eid, many Dhaka residents might go out for last-minute shopping in the evening, leading to increased traffic. Areas around major markets such as New Market, Gulistan, and Bashundhara City, as well as Kawran Bazar, may experience a surge in congestion.

Traffic Sergeant Md. Mustafa, stationed at Kawran Bazar, said, "Since morning, there has been almost no traffic pressure. We are just passing the time sitting here. However, vehicle movement may increase slightly in the afternoon."

Most private offices and garment factories declared holidays on Saturday. As a result, highways saw an increase in homebound travelers. Those who could not leave Dhaka yesterday were seen heading to different bus terminals today.

Earlier, Thursday was the last working day for government offices, and a large number of people left Dhaka that day. Consequently, the city started emptying out from Friday. Since this year’s Eid holiday is longer, people have been able to travel home more comfortably.

Notably, the official Eid holiday began on Sunday (March 30) after the weekend on March 28 (Friday) and March 29 (Saturday). Government offices will reopen on April 6 (Sunday) after the holiday break.