This has also hindered the supply of food for the zoo animals.

The Zoo usually wears a festive look as it had a large number of visitors during the Eid holidays. This outlook lasted for about 10 days, but unfortunately it did not last for more than two days, said Dr NC Banik, deputy curator, Dhaka Zoo.

"This year there was a large number of visitors on the day of Eid and the day after, but unfortunately began to gradually decrease after that as people sensed a strain in the political situation," said one of the leaseholders of the Zoo gate.

The Zoo is usually buzzing with people four to five days after the festival. The number of visitors on Eid was around 35,000 while the day after Eid the number totalled to 65,000.

But on Friday, the third day of Eid the numbers saw a gradual downslide with the deteriorating political situation, with around 22,000 while Saturday, Sunday and Monday recorded 3,000, 1,500 and 2,000 respectively, said the deputy curator.

The leaseholders said they have to pay the government around Tk 60 lakh once in three months including value added tax (VAT) and other charges, the authority added.

"Eid is the season where we earn much from thousands of visitors. During the month of Ramadan the number of visitors decreased, but usually the gap is bridged during the holidays for Eid," said the other gate leaseholder. "Unfortunately, it did not happen this year," he said.

When this correspondent visited the zoo last morning around 9.00, the entire compound and its surroundings were unusually clean. Cleaners were just busy cleaning the animal cages and walkways.

While five monkeys were idly nibbling bananas and bread, the tiger was pacing up and down in the open space in front of its cage.

Suppliers were waiting patiently with their wares including leafy vegetables, banana trees, grass and jackfruit leaves for the officer of the zoo to weigh their goods, where a certain quantity would be stored for later use.

Envisaging a breakdown in the routine of supplies, the authorities decided to store six cows for carnivorous animal last Friday, Banik said. Grass that was usually transported daily by truck from Savar were brought in by three pushcarts.

The chaotic period brought much anxiety to fish and leafy vegetables suppliers, because of the non-availability of these items in the local market.

However, with the withdrawal of the siege and normalcy in the political situation returning countrywide, visitors have gradually begun their visits from yesterday.

The zoo is open from Monday through Saturday from 7:00am to 5:00pm and is closed on Sundays and government holidays. The entry fee is Tk 10 each.