From Gabtoli-Mirpur Road-New Market to Uattara-Airport-Mohakhali, a good number of strategic checkposts have been set by the law enforcement agencies to prevent unwanted movement of people. COURTESY
Roads in the capital fell almost silent on Saturday, as law enforcers dissuaded inessential travelers from moving on the second day of the reinforced nationwide lockdown.
Grappling with rising Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh reimposed strict lockdown restrictions from Friday after an eight-day break for Eid-ul-Azha. The stricter lockdown will continue till August 5 midnight.
A reality check revealed that there were fewer private cars and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Friday.
RAB and Army personnel patrolling the streets of Dhaka alongside local police, were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people after setting up check-posts in different areas.
From Gabtoli-Mirpur Road-New Market to Uattara-Airport-Mohakhali, a good number of strategic checkposts have been set by the law enforcement agencies to prevent unwanted movement of people.
“Though some of the long-distance buses and vehicles were allowed to enter Dhaka through Uttara and Abdullahpur on Friday, we strictly followed a 'no tolerance' policy on Saturday," said traffic police officer Akhtar Hossain.
As a result, many people returning to the metropolis after the Eid holidays were seen trying to enter the city on foot via various points, including Abdullahpur, Uttara, Tongi, Amin Bazar bridge and Babu Bazar bridge.
However, as per the government instructions, only ambulances and those in emergency services were allowed to enter the capital.
The few private cars, microbuses and other commercial vehicles that were caught plying on the roads without any valid reason in defiance of lockdown norms were fined or compounded by police.
A police officer in the Amin Bazar area said, "Some people have been trying to enter the city showing medical documents but most of those were found to be old and invalid."
On Thursday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said that this lockdown would be stricter than the one imposed last time. "Police, the paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guard and the Army will keep a strict vigil on the roads."
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