The extended holidays for Eid-ul-Azha have come to an end, and the residents of the capital are starting to return to rejoin work. Having spent the holidays with loved ones, people have begun streaming back into Dhaka, marking the end of a brief period of tranquility in the bustling metropolis. From early morning today, Kamalapur Railway Station witnessed a significant crowd as city dwellers arrived back from their hometowns. Around ten million people had left Dhaka to celebrate Eid with their families, dramatically altering the usual busy atmosphere of the city. Read more: Eid journey was safe this time due to use of speed guns: Bangladesh Police Families, carrying luggage and gifts from their hometowns, were seen disembarking from trains and hailing rickshaws and CNG-run auto rickshaws to reach their destinations.

Dhaka's air quality was ‘moderate’ this morning (June 28, 2023) due to the ongoing rain. Besides, few vehicles on the street also contributed to improved air quality, as the Eid-ul-Azha holidays began on Tuesday. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 55 at 10:49 am, the densely populated capital city of Bangladesh ranked 40th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. With less traffic as Eid holidays begin, Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning Dubai in UAE, Detroit and Chicago in the US occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 229, 205 and 174, respectively. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.  

Dhaka’s air quality has turned ‘moderate’ during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays as most of the residents left the capital for their respective village home to celebrate the religious festival. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 91 at 10.46 am, Dhaka today ranked 17th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Nepal’s Kathmandu, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai and Myanmar’s Yangon occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 170, 160 and 140, respectively. Also read: Dhaka’s air quality still 'unhealthy', 5th most polluted in the world Friday morning An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Prices of fish and vegetables have shot up in the kitchen markets of Khulna after Eid holidays, bringing a blow to people from middle and low income groups. The consumers alleged that every year after Eid, traders sell vegetables and fish at higher prices. Despite having enough supply, the prices have gone up, said some consumers who came to New Market in the city five days after Eid to buy vegetables and fish. However, vegetable traders in different markets of the city said that there is a shortage of vegetables in the market. In the city markets, pointed gourd, eggplant, ladies-finger, bitter gourd, papaya, colocasia stem and different spinaches are selling between Tk 50-60 per Kg while potatoes, carrots, green chilies and cucumbers between Tk 100-150 per kg. Read: Spice prices shoot up ahead of Eid despite sufficient stock Hilsas are selling between Tk 1000-1500 per kg while prawns and lobsters at Tk 700-1200 per kg. Hilsa trader Joynal said they collect fish from Khulna New Market. Hilsa  supply is low in the wholesale market as many fishermen did not go to the sea during EId. “So the prices seem a bit high.” Besides, rohita, katla, pangasea, tilapia, Bhetki, puti and tengra are selling between Tk 200-600 per kg. Imran, a buyer who came to Rupsha kitchen market, said that he came to the market to buy fish and vegetables after getting bored of eating meat since Eid and found the price of fish  very high. “Every year after Eid the market becomes unstable.” Sheikh Palash Hossain, president of the Wholesale Traders' Association, said the prices of vegetables  usually increase in the post-Eid time, which is normal. Besides, the supply of vegetables in the market is less due to Eid vacation, he said. “The prices of vegetables and fishe go up as their demand increases after Eid,” he added.

Eight people, including seven children, drowned in Chattogram, Sylhet, Chapainawabganj, Sherpur and Brahmanbaria districts during Eid holidays. In Chattogram, two children drowned in a canal in Kolpolok residential area in Bakolia of the city around 1pm on Tuesday while playing near the canal. The deceased were identified as Md Shamim, 10, and Rabiul Islam, 7, residents of the area. Sadiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) (investigation) of Panchlaish police station, said locals rescued the children and took them to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) where doctors announced them dead on arrival. In Sylhet, a tourist drowned in the river at Jaflong, a tourist destination, this noon, said Md Ratan Sheikh, in-charge of Jaflong Tourist Police. The deceased was identified as Mahidul Islam, 19, of Narsingdi district. He was a 2nd year student of Narsingdi Ideal College. He among three people drowned in the river while taking bath, however, two of them managed to swim to the shore, said the official. Later, fire service divers recovered Mahidul’s body from the river around 6pm, he added. Read: Child Drowning Prevention: Water safety tips to save your kid from drowning In Chapainawabganj, a 12-year-old boy drowned in the Mahananda River in the town this noon, said Mozaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chapainawabganj Sadar police station. The deceased was identified as Kawsar, son of Mesbaul Hoque of the district town. Later, divers of the fire service rescued the boy and rushed him to district Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead, the OC added. In Sherpur, a schoolboy drowned in a pond at a college playground in Pakuria union in the morning while playing football, said Naeem Md Nahid Hasan, inspector (Investigation) of Sherpur Sadar police station. The deceased was identified as Munayem Islam Mishuk, a class X student of Sherpur Government Technical School and College. Fire service divers recovered the body around 11am, said the OC. In Brahmanbaria, two siblings drowned in a pond in Nabinagar upazila Monday evening. The deceased were identified as Jannat Aktar, 10, and Sadia Aktar, 7, daughters of Md Atik Mia of the upazila. The siblings slipped into the pond adjacent to their house and drowned, said Md Aminur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Nabinagar police station. Later, locals recovered the bodies from the pond, he added. In the district town, a schoolboy drowned in a canal at Kautali Sunday morning while bathing a sacrificial animal in the canal. The deceased was identified as Nabil Rahman, a grade seven student of Ideal Residential School and College. Fire service divers rescued Nabil's body from the Karulia canal after five hours of drowning, said district Fire Service Team Leader Md Jewel Mia.

The National Board of Revenue has decided to keep the customs houses open on limited scale from April 29 to May 4 (except Eid day). Also read: BGMEA calls for more train services to ease garment workers’ Eid travel A notification issued in this regard on Wednesday said in order to keep the country's import-export activities dynamic and to ensure a trade-friendly environment, the activities at the custom houses will remain open for limited period during the Eid-ul-Fitr  holidays as well as on public and weekly holidays.

The number of deaths in road crashes during the Eid holiday rush increased during the just concluded Eid ul Fitr, despite a ban on inter-district bus operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, two civic bodies said Tuesday. At least 249 people were killed and 385 others were injured in 207 road crashes over the 12 days till Monday, as people rushed to travel home and come back to Dhaka, according to a report jointly prepared by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways. The report covers the period between May 6 and May 17. The report also stated that among the deceased, 35 were women, 29 children, 23 pedestrians and 27 transport workers, including drivers.    Also read: Rab member, another killed in Gazipur road accident Both accidents and deaths increased during this Eid-ul Fitr's holidays from the last Eid-ul Azha, the report observed.

Bangladesh recorded 363 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning as the number of sample tests declined drastically since the beginning of Eid holidays. Only 5,430 samples were tested during the period which were two or three times higher before Eid-ul-Fitr. So far, 5,707,716 tests have been carried out. Besides, the country saw 25 deaths taking the death toll to 12,149, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read:Bangladesh extends lockdown until May 23 Bangladesh reported 25 Coronavirus fatalities on March 24 and the number continued to go up since then. It experienced a surge in cases in April but the daily count fell below 2,000 in early May. The mortality rate rose to 1.56 percent from Saturday’s 1.55 percent while the infection rate stood at 6.69 percent, the DGHS said. Bangladesh has so far confirmed 780,159 Coronavirus cases. The country reported its first cases on March 8 last year and the first death on March 18, 2020. Meanwhile, 601 people have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, putting the recovery rate at 92.55%. Lockdown extended till May 23 The government extended the ongoing lockdown for another week until May 23 with two new directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19. A circular was issued by the Cabinet Division in this regard on Sunday. It said all offices and agencies relating to revenue collection will be considered as emergency service providers. Read:Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh Besides, restaurants and eateries will remain open with only takeaway/online services. As coronavirus cases kept growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. But with no improvement in sight, the government went for stricter lockdown and extended it in phases. Schools, colleges to remain closed until May 29 The government has again extended the closure of secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions until May 29. The decision was taken considering the safety of students, teachers and staffers after consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19, the Education Ministry said in a handout. During the closure online classes will continue, it said. The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year, just over a week after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases. Read:Closure of schools, colleges extended until May 29 The closure was extended several times, most recently until May 23 this year. On February 22, the education minister announced that university classes would resume on May 24. Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.  

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

The Bangladesh government has cancelled leaves of all forest personnel posted in the Sundarbans and asked them to intensify patrolling in the mangrove forest during the Eid holidays. Stricter patrolling, officials said, would help keep at bay smugglers who could take advantage of the Eid holidays to cut trees or hunt deer in the Sunderbans. Khulna Circle Forest Conservator Moinuddin Khan said, "The usual norm is to allow some forest personnel to take leave of absence during the Eid holidays, but this year everyone has been asked to stay on." Also read: Tourism suspended in Sundarbans till Apr 15 According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, officials of all government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations, and banks and financial institutions have also been asked to remain at their respective workstations during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.