Sacrificing Eid with family, emergency workers put service to others first
Despite missing personal celebrations, they say they find joy in serving others during this time
While most city dwellers left Dhaka to celebrate the nine-day Eid holiday with their loved ones, emergency service providers remained on duty to ensure public safety and essential services.
Despite missing personal celebrations, they say they find joy in serving others during this time.
Doctors, police, traffic officers, firefighters, journalists, security guards, and cleaners spent their Eid at their workplaces, attending to their responsibilities.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
On Tuesday, the second day of Eid, the emergency department at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital in Dhaka saw more than 50 sick children brought in for treatment.
Dr Keya Saha, who was on duty, said, "Although I follow the Sanatan religion, I still wish to visit my village during Eid as my relatives and friends gather there. However, treating children in need brings me greater happiness. We do not get holidays during Eid, but we find joy in performing our duties."
She added, "On Eid day, there was a surge in patients, mainly suffering from pneumonia and diarrhoea. More than 200 patients came in on Tuesday alone. The satisfaction of helping them outweighs the joy of celebrating Eid with family. Senior doctors also visited patients and encouraged us."
Shariful Islam, a hospital ward boy, expressed similar sentiments.
"Helping a sick child recover by administering oxygen makes me feel like the hospital and its patients are my own family. I do not regret missing the Eid holiday," he said.
Parents like Alo Akter, who visited multiple hospitals over ten days before bringing her sick child to the diarrhoea hospital in Mohakhali and later to the children's hospital, expressed gratitude.
"We have no Eid joy because our child is unwell, but we are grateful for receiving treatment during the holiday. The doctors and nurses have been very sincere," she said.
At Sadarghat Launch Terminal, Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence leader Kazi Rahedul Islam and his team of 13 have been on duty since before Eid.
He said, "Fire service personnel are stationed at eight points here, and we will remain on duty until 7 April. Ensuring a safe Eid for city dwellers is our greatest reward. Thankfully, there have been no major accidents in this area, which is our Eid achievement."
He added, "When we joined this profession, we took an oath to prioritise service over personal matters. We work around the clock, and this is how we celebrate Eid. After finishing duty on the 7th, I plan to visit my village with my children if granted leave."
Md Nuruzzaman, a traffic police constable stationed at Shyamoli intersection, said, "In our profession, there is no Eid or holiday. We celebrate Eid with the people of the capital. If I can regulate traffic and prevent accidents, that is my way of celebrating."
He recounted his Eid day, saying, "I was on duty at the Eid congregation at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon. I performed prayers there and shared vermicelli with my colleagues. Our sacrifice allows the city's residents to celebrate comfortably."
Doctors at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation reported an influx of patients from different parts of the country.
They said treating the injured was their way of observing Eid. Many of the doctors on duty during the holiday were non-Muslim.
Security guards Arafat and Hridoy, who were stationed at the Unicef office in Dhaka, spent Eid away from their families for the first time. They said that after duty, they went for a short walk, shared sweets with colleagues, and attended prayers at a nearby Eidgah.
Two police officers on duty in Shahbagh acknowledged their desire to celebrate with their families but accepted their responsibilities.
"It is difficult, but knowing that people are celebrating Eid safely because of our work gives us peace," one officer said.
A journalist working during Eid shared a similar perspective.
"Our office is our second home. Just as we miss our families all year round, we miss our workplace if we do not work on Eid. Those of us on emergency duty have become a small family, finding joy in working together."
Bilkis Begum, a cleaner for Dhaka North City Corporation, said, "Not everyone in the city corporation gets Eid leave. If the roads are not cleaned during the holidays, residents will suffer. Although I feel sad about missing Eid, I take pride in serving the people. I will visit my village once the holiday period ends."
