<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Dhaka city is still to get its usual look though the city dwellers have started returning to the capital after holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bustling capital looked empty with most of the roadside shops, shopping malls closed and few public and private vehicles plying the streets in the morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government, semi-government, and private offices including banks and financial institutions opened today but there was a low presence of employees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Officials and staff were seen exchanging Eid greetings with colleagues by embracing each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A small number of buses and private vehicles were seen plying the streets in Malibagh, Shantinagar, Gulshan, Firmgate , Dhamondi, Mirpur&nbsp; and Shahbagh areas in the morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Md Yousuf, an employee of a private bank, said, “Still a festive environment is prevailing in the city. There is no traffic jam or chaos on streets. It took me only 6 minutes to reach Gulshan from Rajarbagh area by car that usually takes 30 to 40 minutes on the other regular days due to traffic congestion. It’s a temporary relief for Dhaka dwellers.”&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the occasion of Eid, April 10, 11, and 12 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) were public holidays. After Eid, there was a weekly holiday on Saturday, April 13, and a Bengali New Year holiday on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh on Sunday, April 14.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, many of the government and private sector workers who went outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid took optional leave.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a result, it will take a few more days to start the proceedings in full swing in the offices, courts, banks, and stock market.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides, schools and colleges will also open next week. Then the capital will return to normal. - unb</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/fas</div>