Dhaka: Although thousands of people headed for their respective village homes to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones, many miss the festival for the sake of responsibility.

Law enforcers, firefighters, doctors, traffic police, journalists, drivers and conservancy workers are among them who are going to sacrifice their eid celebrations with relatives for discharging duty and responsibility bestowed upon them.

Around 7-8 million city dwellers are expected to leave Dhaka for their respective village homes to celebrate the festival this time.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country either on June 16 or June 17 depending on the sighting of the Shawwal moon, reports the UNB.

This correspondent talked to several professionals who stay back in the capital during the eid vacation for serving people and securing the city.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Demra Zone) Iftekhairul Islam said, ‘I have been celebrating my eid in Dhaka since joining the police department. I didn’t take any leave during eid in my service life spanning over five and half years. With the passage of time, my eid has lost its colour,’ he said.

‘Now I try to find pleasure in celebrating eid with special and street children. Taking every new thing as the best option,’ the police officer added.

These days, the police officer said, he does not go for buying any costume for himself; rather he loves shopping for his relatives and close ones.

Iftekhairul who received an award last month as the best assistant commissioner said he really misses the eid day at his hometown and interesting things like collecting tips from elders. ‘Eid in Dhaka is not the one what we celebrate in my hometown!’

Shakil Hasan, a senior reporter at private television channel Jamuna TV, said he has to stay back in Dhaka during the eid vacation for the sake of his job. ‘I miss many things in Dhaka.’