Dhaka's amusement centers ready to host visitors on Eid holidays

Capital's amusement centers are ready to welcome visitors, especially children, during the long public holidays.

Muslims' largest festival Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on 31 March or 1 April. 

Authorities expect the centers will be filled with massive influx of fun loving kids as well as youths and others during the holidays.

The facilities are being readied with attractive decorations and illuminations to welcome the visitors while special security measures have been taken by the law enforcement agencies so that the visitors can enjoy the Eid festivity safely and smoothly.

Mirpur National Zoo, Botanical Garden, Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhanmondi Lake, Zia Udyan, Uttara Diyabari, National Museum, Shyamoli Shishu Mela, Fantasy Kingdom, Nandan Park, Buriganga Eco Park, Jamuna Future Park, Wonderland Park, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Hatirjheel and the 300-foot road adjacent to Purbachal Bazar are now the vintage points for Dhaka dwellers for leisure and fun with dears and near ones.

National Zoo authorities said they expect one and a half lakh visitors will throng the zoo during Eid holidays from 1-5 April.  Like every day, the zoo will remain open from 9am-6pm.
 
Considering the convenience of the visitors, entry tickets of the zoo will be sold at 14 booths. Apart from this, tickets will also be sold at a booth in the parking lot for private cars. To avoid crowd, the zoo authorities stalled 16 entrances for the visitors.

National Zoo Director Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder said every year around one and a half lakh people visit the zoo during Eid holidays.

Arrangements are being made to increase the number of rows to ensure smooth entry of a large number of visitors at a time.

Coordination meetings have been held with law enforcement agencies to ensure that the visitors don't face any traffic jam in the vicinity.

The price of the entry ticket is Tk50. Children up to two-year age will not need any ticket. In addition, special children and the attendant accompanying them will not need a ticket, he said.

Rafiqul Islam said the beautification work of the interior has already been completed with painting and servicing of CCTV cameras. Sign boards indicating the direction of different spots were installed wherever it's necessary.

He said no food from outside will be allowed inside the zoo. 
"Foods will be available from the sale centers of the Tourism Corporation and another designated restaurant."

Last year, two sales centers provided food services through two restaurants of the tourism corporation. But, this year the authorities allowed another temporary sales center on the opposite side of the giraffe cage.

The temporary sales center will be there so that visitors do not have to face problems for food and drinks. It will be there from Eid day to 5 April.

Shyamoli's Shishu Mela is the primary recreation center for children and teenagers in the area, featuring around 40 rides, including 12 for the whole family.

Shishu Mela authorities said it will remain open from 10am-10pm for the first seven days of Eid. The entry fee is Tk100 per person.

Fantasy Kingdom, built with world-class amusement facilities, excellent landscaping and exciting rides, has already become known as a paradise for amusement loving people.

This theme park, built in Ashulia near Dhaka, will remain open from 10am-10pm for the first seven days of Eid. One can enjoy swimming in the Water Kingdom on its premises.

Nandan Park in Nabinagar, Savar, has various rides and a mini zoo along with a water world.

In this busy city, the capital's Hatirjheel has become a pleasant place to provide soothing to people from tiring city life.
 
There is also a circular bus service to visit the entire Hatirjheel. Water bus service is also available to go the different directions and travel around the lake. There is ample number of restaurants around the lake for food and drinks.

Lalbagh Fort in Old Dhaka will remain open from 10am-6pm. The ticket price is Tk20.

Buriganga Eco Park has been built on about seven acres of land in Shyampur few years back, on the outskirts of the capital, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Historic Ahsan Manzil, situated on the banks of the Buriganga River in Islampur, Old Dhaka with its Mughal heritage, will remain open from 10:30am-5:30pm on Eid holidays.