After an extended 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday that let the capital breathe and exhale, government, semi-government, private, and autonomous offices-including the heart of administration, the Bangladesh Secretariat-buzzed back to life on Sunday, June 15.
From early morning, streams of officials and employees began trickling into ministries and divisions, carrying the scent of village nostalgia, the warmth of family feasts, and the glow of Eid joy still fresh in their eyes.
But as the clock struck 9:00am, the corridors of bureaucracy were far from packed.
Though attendance picked up gradually, the first-hour turnout was notably thin. Secretariat security sources put the attendance at around 70 to 75 percent-respectable, but not robust. Some cited long highway tailbacks and transport delays as reasons for the slow return.
Eid Cheer Still Echoing: Laughter, embraces, and "Eid Mubarak" rang through the air as colleagues reunited. It was less a Monday morning and more a festive reunion. Across offices, warm handshakes and heartfelt hugs blurred the lines between protocol and affection.
"First day after Eid always feels like a reunion," said an official at the Ministry of Agriculture, grinning as he handed sweets to colleagues.
Advisers were also seen shaking off the holiday slumber and diving into duty. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar, and Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury all reported early and resumed official work. Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan clocked in after 10am.
Jahangir Alam even chaired a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order by 10:30am, setting the tone for a gradual return to governance.
Bumper-to-Bumper Return to Routine: Outside, parking spaces at the Secretariat filled up fast, while a steady stream of visitors with access passes poured in, eager to resume tasks put on hold before Eid.
"The crowd is decent for a first day back after such a long break," said an official from the Ministry of Public Administration. "When the Eid holiday is shorter, many delay their return. This time, the long leave allowed most to plan their comeback smoothly."
The government had first announced a six-day Eid holiday (June 5-10), then extended it to June 14 by declaring June 11 and 12 as holidays. To offset the long break, it had earlier opened offices on two Saturdays-May 17 and 24-making room for a record 10-day stretch of relaxation.
A City Slowly Waking Up: From rails to roads, rivers to runways, millions had left Dhaka to bask in the rural rhythms of Eid. But over the past few days, the reverse migration surged-buses heaving into terminals, launches docking at Sadarghat, and platforms buzzing at Kamalapur Station. By Saturday night, most officials had returned to the capital, and by Sunday morning, Dhaka was slowly reclaiming its usual pulse.
As the Secretariat shook off its holiday hush, a sense of renewal hung in the air-half festive, half focused.
The machinery of governance is humming once again, albeit with a smile on its face and the afterglow of Eid still dancing in its steps.
