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City in panic, relief

EMRAN IIOSSAIN, RlZANUZZAMAN LASKAR and DURDANA GHIAS
The evening finally brought relief to the city dwellers, who all day long yesterday were in panic, confusion and anxiety with uncertainty looming large over surrender of BDR mutineers.
When military tanks began closing in on the BDR headquarters and army in the afternoon announced evacuation of people in the houses two kilometres around it, the hope of a peaceful end to the crisis was almost over.
"It’s a war. I've not experienced any war but heard of many. Now I see a war before my eyes. Suddenly I have found that we are in a severe crisis," said panicked Abul Hossain, resident of Elephant Road.
People suddenly felt alive when tension began to cease following surrender of the mutineers and withdrawal of tanks and other military vehicles.
In the evening the streets were filled with people, who were seen taking snaps beside armoured vehicles and arsenals and were shouting in joy.
But until 4:00 in the afternoon the same streets within three kilometres of the BDR head-quarters saw people running for safety with children in their laps b and luggage on back. A number ✓ of lucky people found rickshaws. some escaped in motorbikes and almost all had to walk.
"We are running for a safe place." said Momtaz Bewa, resident of BCS staff quarters in Nilkliet, with her three-month-.. baby in her lap.
She said the evacuation s announcement came around II 3:30pm and more than half of I about 100 families left the quarters by 5:30pm.
r Several thousands employees, workers and shop owners of
s Nilkhet, New Market and Elephant Road left for their t homes outside Dhaka. Garment workers were also seen running f for shelters in groups on foot.
f "My employer has given us i three to four days leave and I am
going to my home in Bhola." i said Pal ash, resident of
Babupara in Nilkhet. who had to loanTk300 for ticket.
i "I am heading for char i (Kamrangirchar) where my
uncle lives." said Nurunnahar, a garment worker.
Earlier, the day started with a completely different and unusual mood, especially around the crisis point. Vehicles mostly stayed off the roads, buzzing shopping centres remained shutdown and people stayed indoors with their eyes glued toTV
"I had two meetings at noon and in the afternoon, but I cancelled those and stayed home instead," said Shakil Reza, an executive officer at a buying house in Banani.
Private firms and service providing agencies carried out their usual everyday activities though many employees reportedly left before closing hours.
Other service providing agencies like hotels and banks reportedly carried out their usual activities excluding employees residing in Dhanmondi.
"Hotel activities were not really hampered as one would expect. Some bookings were cancelled but new guests were checkingin. Almost all the staffs are present but we have excused those who live in Dhanmondi," said Razin Abhi-Mustafiz, public relations, marketing & communications officer, Hotel Sonargaron.
"We are not that worried because of the location of our hotel. But we are worried like any ether citizens of die gouii-' try. We are watching TV and reading news online." said Sabrina Rahman, senior public relations executive, Radisson Hotel.
Bank transactions remained as usual though many bank employees reportedly left for home right after 3:00pm when the transaction hours end.
Most educational institutions cancelled their classes. Schools and colleges were abuzz with phone calls with queries whether classes would beon.
University students mostly stayed home. Dhaka University campus was almost deserted and all the exams have been postponed until tomorrow.