Chattogram: Tourist spots in the port city of Chattogram were overflowed by huge crowds as holidaymakers spent their times with dear and near ones on the second day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Though the busy port city, the country’s second biggest metropolis wore a deserted look with no traffic jams in the streets today due to Eid holidays, city dwellers were seen visiting their relatives and friends for exchanging pleasantries and greetings by taking advantage of the idle days of marathon Eid holidays.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, people, particularly children, juveniles, and young men and women attired in new dresses and shoes, were busy with frequent roaming for their choice of destinations including relatives and friends as a sense of security and safety returned following strict security measures taken by law enforcement agencies. Two Chattogram BNP stalwarts – National Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and City Mayor, former city BNP president Dr. Shahadat Hossain, arranged grand Eid reunion functions at different venues in the city.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury along with his son and member of BNP’s central foreign affairs committee Ishrafil Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury exchanged Eid greetings and pleasantries with party leaders, workers, and well-wishers at their Mehdibag residence in the city. The spacious front courtyard and lawn of his ancestral Mehdibagh residence were turned into a place of mammoth gatherings from morning to afternoon with the frequent visit of hundreds of leaders and workers as well as social dignitaries and well-wishers. The visitors were entertained with traditional beef Mezbani items and sweetmeats, and the leaders and workers were also seen taking pictures with Amir Khasru and Ishrafil Khasru.
Talking to the media, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury expressed that the gathering was a silent election wave besides Eid celebration as people are waiting for a regime change where their security, peaceful environment, and voting rights are re-established. He mentioned that people are eagerly waiting for a free and fair election, having been deprived of such rights during the last 17 years of rule. He added that the people of Bangladesh will no longer allow those who want to remain in power through various tactics.
City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain held his Eid get-together function at Saranika community center on Noor Ahmed Road, where a large number of BNP leaders, workers, and well-wishers gathered from morning to late noon. He greeted party fellows as well as common people from all walks of life, entertaining them with different types of beef Mezbani items.
Thousands of visitors also thronged Patenga sea beach, the country’s second-largest beach, and other tourist spots like Parky sea beach at Anowara, Foy’s Lake Amusement Park and Water Park sea world, Chattogram Zoo, Jatisanga Park, Projapati Park at Patenga, long Marine Road beside Kattali coastal area, Avoy Mitra Ghat and Karnaphuli New Bridge, Mohamaya Lake at Mirsharai, tea gardens at Fatikchari, and Bayezeed Link Road, making these locations vibrant with festivity.
The main feature of this year’s Eid festival is the peaceful and tranquil environment following the tight and multi-scale security measures with the engagement of forces from various law enforcement agencies. Stable market conditions with fair and tolerable prices of essential commodities during Ramadan, followed by a peaceful and secure Eid shopping spree, have rejuvenated the mass people to enjoy Eid holidays in a bigger festive mood and joy.