Dhaka wore a deserted look on Tuesday as tens of thousands of people left the capital for country homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday with their dear and near ones, laying the city’s hustle and bustle to temporary rest.
For operators of trains, buses and water vessels who were struggling to cope with the rush even on Monday when people were seen taking risky ride perching on outer surfaces, Tuesday was an idle day as crowds were very thin at the terminals.
But travelers were seen waiting anxiously as buses got stuck on the highways due to tailbacks, delaying their last moment travel back home.
bdnews24.com correspondents travelling within the city found Dhaka, which is home to more than 10 million people who mostly have roots in outside districts, in an unusual look.
There is no traffic jam, no unbearable noise, which otherwise spell havoc for the dwellers in the 360 square-kilometer crammed Dhaka City Corporation area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police estimates more than 5 million people left the capital removing its usual nagging traffic. Businessmen, traders, employees of shopping malls and markets have started leaving Dhaka on Tuesday.
However, those stayed back in the capital are crowding the makeshift cattle markets with the rise in the supply of the sacrificial animals.
At least 25 cattle markets were set up at different parts in the two Dhaka City Corporations, many of them alongside the roads, including at Gabtoli, Agargaon-Shyamoli link road, Taltola of Mirpur, Babu Bazar and near Rampura Bridge where small traffic congestion were seen.
But home-goers have to endure traffic on the highways due to tailbacks.
Correspondents reported that passengers got stuck on Dhaka-Tangail highway on Tuesday morning as a 50-km long tailback was created on the road due to heavy traffic.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan police said they had taken extra measures to beef up security in the capital particularly around shopping malls, and financial institutions.
Owners of shops and business establishments have earlier been asked not to keep money inside their establishments to avert any unpleasant incident.
Police said they had arranged all-out security measures in the capital to ensure security in the vacant houses as well as shopping malls and markets.
Plainclothes police have already been deployed along with those in uniforms and elite force RAB to strengthen the vigil.
Source: bdnews24
