After celebrating Eid at their respective village homes, the working people started returning to Dhaka city for the second day from Monday morning facing various difficulties due to absence of mass transports.

Though there is no specific statistics, thousands of people had left Dhaka city for thier respective villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones despite a ban on inter-district public transport services due to the worsening Covid-19 situation.

As Eid-Ul-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals for the Muslim Ummah, was celebrated across the country on Friday, hundreds of city dwellers have started to return to the city from Sunday morning after celebrating the Eid. Similarly, people started returning the city for the 2nd consecutive day of Monday. 

Witnesses said a large number of people were seen crossing Tongi Bridge from Tongi Bazar to Abdullahpur of Uttara, Amin Bazar Bridge from Amin Bazar to Gabtoli, Postagola Burigonga bridge of Shympur and Babu Bazar Burigonga Bridge of Babu Bazar by foot. 

Also read: 20- km tailback on Dhaka-Aricha highway

The government has imposed lockdown restrictions since April 14 due to an increase in the coronavirus infection in the country. Even though long-distance buses are closed, people are returning  from their respective villages to the Dhaka city to join their respective workplaces, especially garments industries. 

The government has again extended the ongoing restrictions on public movement and gathering, or so-called, lockdown, for another week -- until May 23 -- to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Earlier before the Eid, despite government's effort to refrain the city dwellers from leaving Dhaka city, people had rushed to different districts of North and South in different small vehicles, even in goods trucks or pickups. Even the ferry was closed during the day and BGB was deployed to prevent them from crossing the Padma but government’s effort went on in vain.

Amir Hossain, an employee of a garments industry of Mirpur Section-12,  said he went to his native village in Shibchar of Madaripur district to celebrate the Eid festival facing various difficulties. Similarly he has returned Dhaka today (Monday noon) as he has to join his factory tomorrow (Tuesday).

Witnesses said people are using microbus, private car, auto-rickshaw, pick-up Van, motorcycles and other vehicles to reach Burigonga bridge from Mawa ferry ghat. Similarly, people are using same types of vehicles to reach Amin Bazar bridge or cAshulia from Patoria ferry ghat. 

Besides, Private cars, microbuses , motorcycles and other types of vehicles like Pick-up van are being used to reach Tongi Bazar, Chattragram Road for Dhaka city from other destinations.  
Traffic Inspector Shahidur Rahman, on-duty near Babu Bazar Bridge, said people are returning Dhaka city from Sunday morning after celebrating the Eid. As inter-district passengers’ buses are restricted to enter the Dhaka city, people are entering the city crossing the bridge by foot, he added.

Also read: People still trying to leave Dhaka defying restrictions, ignoring Covid risks

As Covid-19 cases kept growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government had imposed a "loose nationwide lockdown" for one week from April 5. 
Later, a "stricter lockdown" was announced from April 14 to 21. On April 28, the government again extended the restrictions until May 5 and issued six fresh directives as the country is struggling to contain the Covid-19 transmission.