The private and public enterprises began operating yesterday while import-export through land and seaports were in full swing. Attendance at the government offices including the secretariat was on the rise with the officers and employees returning from the long Eid vacation.

Many markets and roadside shops in the capital opened shutters yesterday. Some are still closed but that is a normal practice after Eid bonanza.

The holidaymakers who had been stranded in different places during the Dhaka siege programme have begun to return to the city with resumption of inter-district buses, trains and other transport services.

The inter-district bus terminals at Mohakhali, Gabtoli and Saidabad were crammed full of buses coming from and leaving for different districts yesterday. The train services too were becoming normal.

Most of the small and medium-sized enterprises went about their businesses for the first time after Eid.

The eerie silence that ruled the city streets was dissipating with the increasing number of private vehicles coming out of about a week's slumber. As the people came out for day's business and bus services on different routes resumed, Dhaka yesterday got back its usual look.

Many of the city dwellers who have literally been confined to their houses for the last several days heaved a sigh of relief as AL and its allies withdrew their blockade programmes. The announcement seems to have diminished public fear for violence, even if for the time being.

The stock exchanges started transactions from yesterday and those at the commercial banks were also normal.

At different landports, hundreds of trucks that had been stuck on both sides of the border started loading and unloading goods again. During the week of political turmoil, the businessmen across the border had also suspended export-import.

Benapole, the country's premium landport, got back in operation yesterday morning after remaining closed for three consecutive days due to the political upheaval in the country. The suspension of transport had left hundred of passengers stranded at the port, said sources.

Export and import through the landports in the northern districts were normal after over a week's break due to Eid vacation and political troubles, added the sources.

According to a BSS report, over 650 trucks laden with perishable goods had been stranded on either side of the Hili, Burimari, and Sonamasjid landports during the last three days.