Even as tens of thousands left Dhaka to reach family homes in the districts for Eid, many stayed behind in the capital during the festival.
Most of those who remained behind were professionals but many of them were students as well.
“Our OC has gone on leave, but we are managing the police station in his absence,” said MA Jalil of Shahbagh Police Station. “It is painful to be away from parents during Eid but some have to sacrifice for others.”
All policemen on duty during the festival were served a hearty lunch of Pulao and beef on behalf of the Dhaka police Commissioner on Wednesday.
But there were others who were happily covering up for colleagues.
“I took off during the recent Durga Puja. Now I am only too happy to cover up for my colleagues who have taken off for Eid,” said Sahadev Rajbongshi of the Mitford Hospital’s emergency department.
He said that doctors and nurses from Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities generally cover up for their Muslim colleagues during Eid.
But a small number of Muslim doctors and nurses also do duty during the festival — or else the level of on-duty staff may drop too sharply.
For Gazi TV’s journalist Abdullah Alif, this was the first Eid when he was not with his family.
“I have experience of celebrating Eid in different towns and cities because my father’s job was transferable. But I have always been with the family during the festival,” said Alif.
“This time it was different. There was none to call me to wake up and clean up before the namaz,” he said.
Finally when he started to feel ‘too bad’, he pushed off to a relative’s place in Tongi.
Samay TV’s newsroom editor Nahida Arefin Nitu also suffered the Eid because she was not able to be with her family.
“Parents were so upset because I could not be home for Eid, but I had no choice. They even wanted to come to Dhaka the day after the Eid to be with me but I told them not to,” she said. “Call of duty and reality of the profession cannot be overlooked.”
For Abu Zafar, the rickshawpuller from Sirajganj, leaving Dhaka for Eid was no option anyway.
“I have been pulling my rickshaw, this is how my Eid is spent,” Zafar said.
His only consolation: “On Eid day, you can drive your rickshaw around like a King.”
Newly married student Farhana Urmi is having a great Eid in Dhaka with her journalist husband.
“It is a great experience. All our well wishers, please pray for us,” says her latest facebook posting.
Mafizur Rahman, assistant to a bus driver on Gulistan-Tongi route, is missing out on Eid as he is on duty.
Like Zafar, his only consolation — with roads deserted, driving around the capital during Eid is a great experience.
Source: Bd news24