Please, keep urself at least 100 miles away from me !!!

Nasir Muzahid Since the beginning of Eid holiday, Dhaka has been wearing a deserted look as most city dwellers are yet to return from their villages. The hustle and bustle of Dhaka came down as the city got a temporary relief of nagging traffic congestion following Eid vacation and the weekend holiday. As the city dwellers were busy in sacrificing animals on the first day of Eid, they did not go outside. But from the second day of Eid, the city got a festive look as people in colourful dresses were seen roaming on the streets, visiting their relatives and amusement parks. Towhid, a Notre Dam College student, who was walking on the street with his friend, said, "I wish we had always a vacation with such festivity and a city with all its streets free from traffic congestion and vendors." The city dwellers also did not face load-shedding, shortage of gas and water supply at their residence and traffic jam on the streets. Abdul Mannan, a businessman, after reaching Lalbag from Mirpur within half an hour by a CNG-run three-wheeler, said, " The days are passing just like dreams. There is no load-shedding and no traffic congestion in the capital." He however complained that the CNG driver took Tk 50 more than the usual fare. While asked, Manju, the driver, replied, "We don't have any other way as we get few passengers during the Eid vacation." Important city spots like Farmgate, Shahbagh, Gulistan, Motijheel, Malibag, Mouchak, Gulshan-1 and Bijoy Sarani intersections, Airport and Mirpur roads and Mohakhali level-crossing were traffic gridlock free and no-one had to wait in long queues there. The number of public vehicles was very thin, while private vehicles plied in a considerable number. Rickshaws were another means of drive, which the young preferred to take as usual. "It was really nice having a rickshaw ride on the streets without any stops. Though the rickshaw-pullers demanded more fare than usual, we paid them in satisfaction" said Fahmida Akter Laboni, who spent yesterday riding rickshaws with her friends. Most of the food shops remained closed at noon, while most of the city markets remained shut throughout the vacation. Police constables and traffic men on duty were in a relaxed mood, as the low traffic flow did not require much effort for proper traffic handling. Though private offices and business centres resume today and public offices from tomorrow, very few of the city residents have returned from their home villages after celebrating the festival. While visiting city's bus, launch and railway terminals on Thursday and Friday, it was seen that the number of the homebound people was more than the returning people. Huge number of people who didn't get leave before Eid, rushed to the stations to go home. Meanwhile, people who enjoyed the Eid vacation in the city thronged different places of interest and enjoyment with their children and family members. Huge crowds were seen in all the amusement parks and other visiting spots including Zia Shishu Park, Shishu Mela, Wonderland, National Museum, Zoo, Lalbag Fort, Fantasy Kingdom, Nandan Park, Botanical Garden, Ramna Park, Sohrawardy and Chandrima Uddyan.