6th day of Lockdown: More people, vehicles on Dhaka roads

Despite the government extending the current lockdown for another seven days, the streets and main roads of the capital were seen brimming with more people and vehicles on Tuesday on the sixth day of lockdown.

In the Shahbag intersection, Katabon, Bata Signal and Science Lab, police were rarely stopping and checking people for pass although the public turnout was huge considering government restrictions.

Most of the shops were shut down in these places. However, there was also an increased number of rickshaws and motorcycles operating.

One of the rickshaw pullers, Tofail, said he travelled to Birdem Hospital all the way from Jatrabari with a patient.

"The police did not stop or interrogate me anywhere on the way. I haven't seen them checking anyone else either while driving," he told the media.

Golam Mostafa, inspector (traffic) of Shahbagh area, said the police are doing what they can as most of the people were out with movement passes.

"If people go out with passes, we can't stop them. Those who are without a pass are being stopped and cases are being filed if necessary," he told the media.

He also remarked that most of the people somehow fall under the 18 categories exempted from the lockdown restrictions.

Meanwhile, people turned out in huge numbers to submit samples for Covid-19 tests in front of the RT-PCR lab of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) set up at Betar Bhaban.

In the city's Banani area, the pressure of private vehicles caused slight congestions in certain places.

However, the drivers and passengers blamed the police checkpoints for slower movement as they were seen stopping vehicles and inquiring about movement purpose.

On 14 April, Bangladesh enforced weeklong stricter lockdown measures as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country harder in recent weeks. The restrictions will end on 21 April.

The government has decided to extend the lockdown for another week as the Covid-19 infection rate still remains alarming in the country.

In the last 24 hours alone, Bangladesh saw the highest-ever death of 112 people from the lethal disease.