Dhaka, Feb. 15 -- Public life across the country returned to normalcy on Sunday after the national election and a four-day government-declared holiday, with offices reopening, vehicles back on the roads and businesses resuming regular operations.

The extended break, announced to facilitate voting and ensure law and order, covered the election day and adjacent days, giving many people a rare opportunity for rest and travel.

With the holiday now over, government and private offices reopened, banks resumed transactions and educational institutions prepared to restart classes.

In the capital, traffic gradually picked up from early morning as commuters returned to work.

Although congestion was lighter than usual in some areas due to stagge...