Eid exodus leaves Dhaka nearly empty

The capital city of Dhaka is rapidly emptying ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival for Muslims, as people leave the city to celebrate the holidays with their families, turning the usually bustling metropolis into an usually calm and traffic free city.

A seven-day holiday for public and private sector employees has triggered a mass exodus that began earlier this week, leaving streets and neighborhoods significantly less crowded.

Areas such as Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Banglamotor, Shahbagh, Press Club, Paltan, Motijheel, and Kamalapur have been witnessing far fewer people and vehicles compared to regular weekdays.

Public transportation is operating with fewer passengers, and many buses are running nearly empty. 
While traffic has eased across most of the capital, certain zones—particularly those near cattle markets or major bus terminals—are experiencing localized congestion due to increased movement of people and goods.

In contrast, rickshaws and battery-powered auto-rickshaws have become more visible across the capital, with drivers reporting easier movement on roads. Some rickshaw pullers also noted that passengers are more generous with fares during the Eid season.

Meanwhile, as today might be the day before Eid if the Shawwal crescent moon is sighted today, many Dhaka residents might go out for last-minute shopping in the evening, leading to increased traffic. Areas around major markets such as New Market, Gulistan, and Bashundhara City, as well as Kawran Bazar, may experience a surge in congestion.

Travel time across the city has dropped significantly. Routes that would typically take double or even triple the time are now passable in much shorter durations, allowing those still in the city to reach their destinations more quickly and conveniently.

Transport companies said nearly half of their fleet is currently operating intercity routes, mainly toward northern districts, in response to the high demand from homebound passengers. Many have also deployed additional buses to accommodate the rush.

Authorities have also ramped up security measures across the country ahead of the Eid holiday. A three-phase security plan has been implemented—covering the pre-Eid, Eid day, and post-Eid periods—to ensure public safety and smooth transportation during this peak travel season.

To ensure smooth Eid travel, DMP has taken extensive security measures ahead of Eid, including deployment of additional uniformed and detective police at major bus, launch and railway terminals, installation of CCTV cameras, control rooms and watch towers, and operation of mobile courts to prevent overcharging, ticket black marketing and passenger harassment.

To reduce congestion, heavy vehicles are restricted on highways from March 17 to March 23 (except essential goods), while several busy routes in the capital have been advised to avoid. Authorities have also urged passengers to stay alert during travel and residents to ensure home security before leaving Dhaka.