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As a result, traffic pressure on highways was significantly reduced in the days leading up to Eid, he said, adding that the familiar scenes of massive traffic jams and prolonged suffering were comparatively under control this year.

To ensure payment of outstanding wages and bonuses for workers of different sectors including garment before Eid, the government engaged banks, factory owners, workers and various associations.

Unlike previous years, there were no major highway blockades or unrest over unpaid wages, Mahdi said, adding that nearly all factories paid wages and benefits on time.

Strict instructions were issued to prevent illegal cattle smuggling across the border to protect the interest of the local farmers, he said, adding that there was a round-the-clock monitoring system in the cattle markets.

Against the demand of about 1.1 crore animals, there were 1.23 crore homegrown animals available for sacrifice.

Specific plans were adopted and additional manpower was deployed from noon of the Eid day in Dhaka’s two city corporations and other major municipalities for removal of sacrificial wastes.

“Prime Minister Tarique Rahman personally inspected waste removal operations by driving through different areas of the capital the following day, which is an unprecedented instance.”

During the inspection, several regional executive officers of Dhaka North and South City Corporations were immediately suspended on Tarique’s instructions for their negligence in removing sacrificial animals’ waste.

There was no incident of any additional fare collection during this Eid journey due to strict monitoring, he said, adding that the fare list has been kept visible through digital boards and stickers at all transport stations including buses and launches.

For the first time, reserved coaches for women were introduced on railways.

Police and law enforcement agencies have played an effective and strong role in preventing extortion in livestock trucks.

Subsequently, an artificial crisis was not created in the market, prices was not increased abnormally on the instigation of middlemen, and ordinary buyers were able to purchase animals at relatively stable prices.

The government ensured salt supplies and set a minimum price for rawhide in advance to break the syndicate of tannery owners, Mahdi said.

“The culture that had developed in the past where seasonal traders threw hides on the streets when they did not get a price for them, has now been greatly reduced due to field-level monitoring.”

The Power Division was instructed to ensure uninterrupted power supply by taking advantage of the closure of factories during the Eid holidays and coordinating energy management.

There was no significant social conflict or law and order situation during the Eid-ul-Azha day or this holiday.

Special task forces regularly monitored markets to control the prices of rice, lentils, spices, oil, sugar and other essential commodities before the Eid, Mahdi said.