Dhaka's government offices reopen but remain eerily quiet after Eid break
Government offices in Dhaka reopened on Tuesday after a weeklong Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. However, activity remained low as many officials stayed on leave or worked remotely. The Bangladesh Secretariat, along with other public offices and banks, saw only a handful of employees return on the first working day. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across Bangladesh on Saturday, marking the end of Ramadan. Government offices officially resumed operations on February 18, 2026, following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first cabinet meeting after the BNP's election victory.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rahman arrived at the secretariat at 9:01 am, but attendance in most offices stayed thin. Many staff had taken optional leave, reducing the usual bustle. The streets of Dhaka were noticeably quieter, with fewer public and private vehicles on the road and no traffic jams reported. Most shopping malls, business centres, schools, colleges, and universities had yet to reopen. Officials initially expected normal operations at the secretariat to resume within days, but full activity was later pushed to March 29. The coming days will see another break, with offices closing for Independence Day on Thursday, followed by the regular weekend holidays on Friday and Saturday.
The gradual return to work follows a prolonged holiday period, with many employees still absent. Offices will face further disruptions due to the upcoming Independence Day closure. Full operations at the secretariat are now anticipated by the end of March.
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