Eid holidays in phases for Gazipur apparel factories to avoid gridlock

Factory owners and police say the decision will help ease the homeward journeys of RMG workers and other commuters

Apparel factories in Gazipur will go on Eid holidays in phases to help avoid traffic congestion and minimise the suffering of commuters, according to a joint decision of police and factory owners.

Despite the weeklong holiday announced by the government starting from Tuesday, many readymade garment (RMG) factories will go on the vacation on Monday afternoon.

The start of the holiday in the RMG factories will be in phases for four consecutive days till Thursday.

Factory owners say the decision will help ease the journeys of the RMG workers and other commuters.

Many workers have already started sending their families home to their respective ancestral villages.

Meanwhile, police and other law-enforcing agencies say they are prepared to ensure smoother Eid journeys.

Gazipur Industrial Police chief Md Amjad Hossain said: “A number of garment factories will be declared shut for Eid holidays on Monday afternoon.

“And many of the garment workers on holiday will leave for their village homes from the evening,” he said.

"In order to help avoid suffering and traffic jams due to the Eid rush, it has been decided that holidays will be staggered in phases instead of all garment factories in Gazipur going on vacation at once.”

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Traffic Commissioner SM Ashraful Alam said nearly 1,000 plainclothes policemen have been deployed alongside patrol and mobile teams across the city.

There are nine wreckers to remove broken-down vehicles from the road, he said, adding that Chandana Chowrasta, an area known for traffic jams in Gazipur, will remain free this Eid as a Dhaka-bound flyover at has been opened.

Gazipur District Police chief Md Sharif Uddin said more than 800 traffic policemen are on duty in Kaliganj Upazila and on the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways in the district.