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. 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. The government, semi-government, and private offices including banks and financial institutions opened today but there was a low presence of employees. Officials and staff were seen exchanging Eid greetings with colleagues by embracing each other. A small number of buses and private vehicles were seen plying the streets in Malibagh, Shantinagar, Gulshan, Firmgate , Dhamondi, Mirpur  and Shahbagh areas in the morning. Read more: Delicious Bhorta Recipes for This Pahela Baishakh 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.”  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. However, many of the government and private sector workers who went outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid took optional leave. 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. Besides, schools and colleges will also open next week. Then the capital will return to normal. Read more: No respite from heat wave in five days: BMD

Eid-Ul-Fitr stands as a beacon of joy, marking the end of Ramadan with its festive spirit and the promise of cherished moments spent with family. As schools close and work pressures ease, families find themselves with a precious opportunity to reconnect, create, and celebrate together. This period of togetherness is not just about observing traditions, it's about making new memories that will be treasured for years to come. Below are ways to infuse creativity and joy into your family's Eid celebration, ensuring every moment is filled with warmth and delight. A guide to meaningful family bonding and fun during Eid-ul-Fitr Bonding over Eid delicacies: Inviting the whole family into the kitchen to prepare Eid specialties is a recipe for bonding. The act of cooking together, assigning tasks that suit each age group, and later savoring the dishes you've created side by side, turns meal preparation into a celebration of collective achievement and familial love. Festive home makeover with children:  Decorating your home for Eid with the help of your children not only beautifies your space but also kindles the creative spirit in your little ones. Encourage them to craft Eid-themed decorations, such as paper lanterns and homemade cards, transforming your home into a vibrant celebration of the festival's joy. Read more: Eid Shopping: Popular Bangladeshi Clothing Brands for Families Culinary adventures at children-friendly restaurants:  Eid is the perfect excuse to take a break from kitchen duties and indulge in the pleasure of dining out. Select restaurants that not only offer a diverse menu to cater to all tastes but also provide an engaging environment for children, such as play areas or interactive meal activities. This combination ensures a stress-free dining experience where the focus is on enjoying each other's company and making mealtime memorable. The beauty of henna: Gathering together for henna application is more than just a beauty ritual; it's a shared cultural experience that strengthens bonds. This tradition, rich in artistry and significance, becomes a cherished moment of connection and celebration among family members. Handcrafted Eid cards and gifts: Nurturing your children's creativity through the creation of handmade Eid cards and gifts for loved ones not only keeps them engaged but also teaches the value of thoughtful giving. This activity allows them to express their feelings through art, making the holiday more personal and meaningful. Read more: Sky-high Laughs with a Hint of Turbulence: 'Crew' starting Tabu, Kareena, Kriti Takes Off! The excitement of Eidi: The giving and receiving of Eidi encapsulate the essence of Eid's joy for children, offering a tangible connection to the festivities. This tradition not only brings smiles to their faces but also instills in them the values of generosity and gratitude. Picnicking under the open sky: Planning a family picnic combines the beauty of nature with the joy of togetherness. Selecting a picturesque spot where the kids can play and explore while the adults relax and chat is a simple yet profound way to celebrate Eid, surrounded by the beauty of the world. Rediscovering the joy of reading together:  Introducing children to the magic of stories is a gift that keeps on giving. Whether it's through the vibrant pages of picture books for the little ones or the compelling chapters of novels for the older kids, reading together opens up new worlds of imagination. A family trip to the library can become a treasure hunt, seeking out titles that will become the next bedtime favorites or spark lively discussions around the dinner table. Read more: Some Popular Bookstore and Reading Cafes in Dhaka

This year Bangladeshis are looking forward to a long Eid vacation. And a long vacation calls for a perfect getaway plan. What if we told you that you could plan an Eid vacation in the serene mountains of Bhutan or Nepal or the tropical paradise in the Caribbean, that too visa-free? Sounds too good to be true? Well, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.  Visa-free Eid Vacation Destinations for Bangladeshis Bangladeshi passport currently allows visa-free entry to 19 countries, visa on arrival in 16 countries, and electronic travel authorization in 2 countries. We’ve picked 10 such destinations to plan your Eid vacation.  Visa Free Entry Bhutan  The “land of the thunder dragon,” Bhutan has been a long-term key ally for Bangladesh. With its breathtaking valleys, mountains, and gorges, Bhutan can be a perfect destination to spend your Eid vacation.  Bhutan provides visa-free entry to Bangladeshi passport holders. Meaning you won’t need anything other than your ticket to enter the country.  Read more: Shopping in Dubai: What to Buy, Where to Buy from Start your itinerary at Paro Valley where the iconic Paro Taktsang or the Tiger’s Nest is situated. Consider visiting Punakha Valley, Bumthang Valley, Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, and Phobjikha Valley based on your days.  While in Bhutan, don’t forget to try iconic local cuisines like Ema Datshi, dumplings, Hoentoe, and Jasha Maroo.  There are several public transports available in the country alongside guided tours. Accommodation in hotels will cost anywhere between 20 to 300 USD or 2195 to 32395 BDT per night (1 USD = 109 BDT). Read our Bhutan travel guide for more detailed information. Bahamas  Now let’s fly off to the Caribbean in the beautiful tropical archipelago of the Bahamas. The country offers visa-free travel to Bangladeshi passport holders similar to Bhutan.  The must-visit places in the Bahamas include Nassau, Paradise Island, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Harbour Island, And Andros Island.  Bahamas is all about seafood delicacies. The local cuisines include conch salad, Bahamian rock lobster, fish stew, and Johnny cake. Getting around the archipelago is relatively easy with taxis and rental cars. The cost of accommodation can range between 100 to 400+ USD or 10977 to 43907 BDT per night. For more information check out the detailed Bahamas travel guide. Dominica  Another great vacation option in the Caribbean for Bangladeshis is Dominica, more commonly known as the ‘Nature Island of the Caribbean’.  Some of the exciting places to visit in Dominica are the Emerald Pool, Boiling Lake, Morne Diablotin National Park, Champagne Reef, and Trafalgar Falls.  While on the island, relish your taste buds with Callaloo Soup, Lambi, Breadfruit, Bouyon, and Mountain Chicken.  Traveling around Dominica is the same as the Bahamas; taxis and car rental are your best options. Though there are several public buses available in limited routes. Accommodation per night would cost anywhere between 50 to 200+ USD or 5488 to 21958 BDT.  Read more: Shopping in Singapore: What to Buy, Where to Buy from Fiji  Fiji is another stunning destination located in the South Pacific. The archipelago is known for its white sand beaches, coral reefs, and thriving cultural heritage.  A trip to Fiji should start at the turquoise water and white beaches of the Mamanuca Islands. From there the tourists can go island hopping in Yasawa and Denarau Island. Suva, the capital city of Fiji is a thriving location holding onto its colonial heritage.  Must-eat food items in Fiji include Kokoda, Rourou, and Palusami. And if you’re looking for some Bangladeshi twist, try their lamb curry which is inspired by the South Asian Mutton Karahi.  Ferries, inter-island flights, and rental cars are your best options for travel. Accommodation will cost anywhere between 50 to 300+ USD or 5488 to 32395 BDT per night.  Read more: How to Avoid Scams During Travel Bookings Visa on Arrival   Nepal  The small country at the foot of the Himalayas is home to the mighty Everest. Beyond that, there’s a rich cultural heritage and eclectic cuisines to be explored in this mountainous country. Bangladeshi passport holders will get a visa on arrival in Nepal.  The best places to visit in Nepal include Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, and the Everest region. If you’re looking for some spiritual upliftment, visit Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for being the birthplace of Lord Buddha.  Bangladeshis would feel right at home in Nepal as their staple food is Dal Bhat. Besides, there are Momos, Thukpa, Sel Roti, and Dhido.  There are several public and tourist buses available along with taxis for transportation. Accommodation per night should cost between 5 to 50+ USD or 548 to 5488 BDT.  Read more: 10 Overseas Places Bangladeshis Can Visit Under BDT 10,000

The frantic rush of home-goers reached its peak in the city on Thursday as thousands of people headed their village homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their loved ones. Bangladesh celebrates Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of Muslims on Sunday. The four-day Eid vacation begins on Friday. As it was the last working day for the government and semi-government officials and employees before Eid, lakhs of home-goers were seen departing the capital by buses, trains and water vessels enduring all the troubles of travelling. The bus terminals, Kamalapur Railway Station and the Sadarghat Ferry Terminal witnessed huge crowd since afternoon with the holidaymakers waiting for their transports to reach their desired destinations. All the trains, many buses and launches leaving Dhaka were packed like sardines. Many passengers alleged that the bus operators are charging extra fares taking the advantage of the shortage of vehicles to meet the demand of huge holidaymakers.  The vacation exodus will continue until Saturday, a day ahead of Eid,  says General Secretary of National Committee to Protect Shipping, Road and Railways Ashish Kumar Dey. As schools and other educational institutions remained closed, many left for homers  early to avoid hassles, he said. Read: Trading in Eid cattle markets yet to gain momentum Replying to a question, Ashis Kumar said more than one crore people are expected to leave the city for celebrating the Eid in their respective village homes. “Around 30 lakh people have already left Dhaka since July 5.” He said more than 25 lakh people, mostly government and semi-government officials and employees and their family members, were supposed to leave the city by Thursday night, while 35 lakh will go to their village homes by Friday and the rest by Saturday night. At Gabtoli bus terminals it was seen that the long-distance buses were leaving the inter-district terminal almost timely since Thursday morning. “The pressure of passengers has increased in Gabtoli bus stand in the evening.  So far, there is no report of schedule disruption of long-distance buses till Thursday evening,” said Assistant Commissioner of Traffic (Darus Salam) Iftekharul Islam. He said buses have been leaving the terminal smoothly without disrupting any schedule of departure times, he added. Superintendent of highway police (Cumilla) Rahmatullah said though there was a huge flow of outgoing vehicles from Dhaka to Chattogram on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway from Daudkandi Bridge, there is no traffic tailback on the 4-lane highways from Thursday morning to 8:30 pm. He said an additional number of highway police remained deployed at different strategic points alongside an adequate number of patrol teams to ensure the safety of passengers and maintain discipline. A senior officer of Highway police (Gazipur) said the Dhaka-Tangail road remained smooth in the afternoon, except for tailbacks near Bangabandhu Bridge in the morning. The southern district-bound passengers this time are going to their village homes smoothly, thanks to the newly opened Padma Bridge. Additional SP (Srinagar circle) of Munshigangj Tanvir Hadider said holidaymakers were reaching their destination smoothly through the Padma Bridge and Dhaka-Mawa expressway. “Vehicles on both sides of the bridge have been running smoothly as no tailback was seen from the morning to till 7:00 pm.” However, the Mawa launch terminal witnessed very few passengers unlike past Eid festival as many holidaymakers are going through the Padma Bridge.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed banks to ensure uninterrupted ATM, POS, internet banking, online e-payment gateway and MFS services during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation. The payment system department of BB on Thursday issued a circular in this regard and sent it to the top executives of all the banks, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers and payment system operators. The circular asked banks to arrange uninterrupted service of Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), internet banking, online e-payment gateway and Mobile Financial Service (MFS) along with adequate manpower to solve instantly if trouble arises during the vacation. Also read: BB tightens belt on forex reserve, bans import credit on luxury items It  also asked banks to keep enough money at the ATM booths , ensure security measures at the ATM outlets, set up note checking machine at the POS to avert the fake notes in the cattle markets across the country and other payment points to serve the traders and other customers.  Banks have to ensure Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for card based payment, card not present payment, said the circular. MFS providers asked to ensure enough money at their agent point so that people can get service (Cash in and cash out) during the period. Also read: BB asks banks to keep branches open in Dhaka cattle market areas on July 8,9 Besides, the central bank has asked banks and other payment gateway operators to take additional cautionary measures to stop any kind of forgery and scam during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation.

Bangladesh Bank has asked  banks to ensure uninterrupted online transaction across the country during the Eid vacation. Md. Mesbahul Hoque, General Manager, Payment System Department (PSD) told UNB on Thursday that the central bank has instructed banks to ensure enough security for payment systems including ATM booths and internet payment gateways. The central bank said that banks have to keep enough money along with an uninterrupted support team for Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), internet banking, online e-payment gateway, and mobile financial service (MFS). Also read: BB enhances working capital loans limit for export-import trading For ATM, the BB instructed to have enough money along with tightened security, service instantly if problems arise any of ATB booths, and keeping equal quantity in On-Us and Off-Us transaction level. In internet banking, the BB asked banks to ensure Two Facto Authentication (2FA) for account to account payment, online e-payment gateway and ‘card not present’ transaction system. In MFS, the BB instructed MFS provider’s banks and their subsidiaries to keep enough money to their agent/ service points to meet uninterrupted transaction service for the customers in the Eid vacation period. Also read: BB re-fixes MFS money transaction limit to ease payment during Eid Besides, the BB asked banks to aware the customers regarding forged notes, higher protection measures to prevent financial scam or crime and strengthen cyber security in every sector as well as inform customers instantly of any kinds of inaction reports. The banks are also instructed to keep an active helpline round the clock and to provide solutions of problems to the customers instantly.

A 24-day summer and Eid-ul-Fitr vacation will begin at Chittagong University from April 17. The academic activities of the university will resume on May 11, said a press release of the university signed by Deputy Registrar SM Akbar Hossain on Monday. Also read: Eid: Govt employees to get salaries, allowances within April 25 The residential halls will remain open during the vacation, it said. Classes of all departments will remain suspended during this period on the occasion of Eid-u-Fitr, Shab-e-Qdar and May Day. However, the administrative activities will continue, said SM Manirul Hasan, acting registrar of the university. Also read: No launch ticket without NID cards during Eid: Khalid

The workers, including the ones employed in the apparel sector, will not be allowed to leave their workplaces during the upcoming three-day Eid holidays to stop further spread of Covid-19, Labour and Employment State Minister Begum Monnujan Sufian said Sunday. The state minister made the announcement during a tripartite meeting held in the capital to discuss the present situation of the workers, their salaries, and Eid bonus issues. Also read: Country will be free of child labour within 2025: Monnujan Sufian

Covid-19 pandemic has presented the world with some unprecedented situations and brought about some previously unthinkable changes to people’s lives. Similarly people have been forced to rethink some of the old, set ways of doing some things; things we could take for granted just 6 months ago, may not survive the scrutiny today in a new light.

Supply chain disruption and temporary closure of businesses amid a government-announced ‘holiday’ to curb coronavirus transmission have pushed up meat prices by as much as Tk 250/kg in Dhaka.