Government offices, private enterprises, banks, and courts reopened on Wednesday in a limited capacity after a five-day shutdown prompted by three days of general holidays and nationwide curfews imposed early last Saturday in response to escalating violence during student protests over quota reforms in public service.
While the early morning witnessed a sparse number of private vehicles and buses on the roads, the capital city gradually saw an uptick in traffic by 10am, with residents venturing out and shops and offices starting to open.
Most garment factories, particularly in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Savar, and Gazipur, reopened following discussions between the country's business leaders and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Heavy traffic congestion plagued areas such as Farmgate, Mirpur, Sayedabad, Motijheel, Kalyanpur, Banani, Tejgaon, and Mohakhali in the morning, bringing the streets of Dhaka to a standstill due to the movement of a large number of vehicles, including buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, and rickshaws, said the commuters.
Office-goers faced challenges finding public transport and encountered delays in reaching their workplaces due to traffic gridlocks.
Raihan Rahman, an employee at a private organisation, said, "I hired a CNG-run auto-rickshaw from Mohakhali to Moghbazar for work, but due to traffic and army barricades, I could not reach on time."
Zahid Hossain, an employee of a media outlet, said, "It took me 40 minutes to travel from Malibagh to Mouchak due to heavy traffic."
Nahidul Islam from the Waste Management Department of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) said, "I faced delays due to severe traffic congestion today, but I am glad to see things returning to normal."
Abdul Barek, a businessman in Islambagh, expressed relief at reopening his factory after a week and hoped for a swift return to normalcy, crediting the government's prompt actions for ensuring public safety.
The government on Tuesday announced that all offices, banks, and non-governmental institutions would operate from 11am to 3pm on Wednesday and Thursday, with curfews continuing until the situation improves.
Broadband internet service was partially restored on Tuesday night, bringing relief to those affected by a blackout since July 18.
However, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT Zunaid Ahmad Palak said on Tuesday that broadband internet services would be restored on a priority basis in government institutions, banks, media outlets, and power and gas supply offices, while email and other Google services would resume operation.
Nevertheless, access to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp remained restricted due to concerns over spreading misinformation and propaganda.
Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Emdadul Hoque on Wednesday confirmed efforts to restore around 70-80 per cent of broadband services by nightfall.
“We are working on this; I hope at least 70-80 per cent of broadband internet services will be restored,” he added.
To restore normalcy, the government relaxed the curfew in Dhaka for seven hours from 10am on Wednesday, allowing garment factories to resume production after significant losses. However, educational institutions remained closed since July 16.
As unidentified miscreants used the quota reform movement as cover for nationwide vandalism and arson, the government enforced a nationwide curfew from Friday midnight and deployed armed forces to quell the unrest.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal asserted on Wednesday that the current situation would be brought under control within a few days.
“Our people abhor militancy and terrorism. Together, we will combat this. I will not permit any militancy group and its network to create mayhem in the country,” he declared to journalists at his ministry’s conference room.
The home minister explained that intelligence and law enforcement agencies were meticulously identifying criminals one by one. “The curfew has been implemented to address the ongoing situation. We have effectively quelled militant uprisings and terrorist activities. Within the next three to four days, everything will be brought under control,” he affirmed.
