DIBRUGARH, Aug 17 - As a mark of respect to the departed soul of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, almost all the traders here kept their business establishments shut for at least the first half of the declared State holiday today to mourn the dignitary�s death.
Barring banking, postal and tea industry, all Government offices, public sector undertakings and educational institutions remained closed for the day. A vast majority of the commercial vehicles also kept off the roads.
It may be mentioned here that the Eastern Assam Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dibrugarh had requested closure of business establishments today as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
The day was also marked with sradhanjali programmes at several places of the town. The sradhanjali programme was held in AMC Auto Stand near Radha Krishna Mandir under the initiative of the Auto Association of Dibrugarh. The Marwari Yuva Manch also held a similar programme at Shoppers Point at Talkie House Road. The district and the Block unit of the BJP held sradhanjali at their party offices in Amolapatty and Khalihamari respectively.
Meanwhile, local MLA Prasanta Kumar Phukan today made an appeal for naming the Bogibeel Bridge as �Atal Setu�.
�He (Atal Behari Vajpayee) played a key role in ensuring the bridge and better road communication in Assam. There should be no objection if the bridge is named after the great personality,� Phukan told this newspaper today.
