City people flout lockdown rules

On the very first day on nationwide lockdown, roadside tea stalls, restaurants, and kitchen markets were crowded like other normal days. People were flouting Covid-19 health guidelines.

Only the public transport was suspended and markets were closed, rest of the things remained same in Dhaka since the day’s morning despite the government imposed 7-day lockdown to curb the surge of Covid-19.

Office goers suffered most due to lack of transport during the first day of lockdown. They were seen waiting for vehicles at various stands. Most of them have reached the office on foot, some office-goers said after asking for their experience amid the newly enforced lockdown.

However, a long tailback of vehicles, including private cars, buses and pickup vans, was created on from Mohakhali to Uttara road putting people in immense suffering.

Standing at Gabtoli bus stand, Mohua Jannat said, “I have been waiting for about one hour. My office is at Kawran Bazar. There is no transport. One or two rickshaws are available, but they demand much higher fare.”

“Many people have walked a long way to their offices, which is not possible for all. However, most of their offices are not that far like mine,” she added.

Two pedestrians in Gulistan area said, “There were many people here at around 9:30 am. Most of them were waiting because there was no bus. Later, many have been seen taking Leguna to their destinations.”

Roadside small tea stalls were opened and gatherings were seen as before. In front of the Kamalapur railway station, the owner of one such stall said, “If the store doesn’t open, we’ll starve to death.”

However, there are police at every point. They are trying to control the unnecessary movement of people.

“We are trying our best to control unnecessary movements. Many CNG auto-rickshaw and rickshaws are seen on roads today,” said SI Palash at Jatrabari.

Motorcycles have been spotted in some places.

A biker at Mirpur said, “I have come out with my bike as I have to feed my family. I will manage money for today’s food if I can make 2/3 trips. I am the only bread earner on my family.”

Joynal Abedin, a pedestrian said, “After walking for a while, I took a rickshaw to Mogbazar with high fare. Many like me have experienced the same. Lockdown has put us in more sufferings.”  

Private cars and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen carrying unusual number of passengers ignoring hygiene rules.

Vegetable seller Mozammel Hossain said, “I have told only half of today’s stock. I am not sure whether I would be able to sell these or not.”

“Less sales since today morning due to the lockdown,” said another seller Sohel.

Grocery shop owner Abdur Rahman said, “Usually I sell goods worth Tk50/60 thousands daily, but sold goods of only Tk2,000 today.”

Most of the shop owners and salesmen in Karwan Bazar were seen wearing no masks and customers were not maintaining social distancing.

Rapid Action Battalion’s Executive Magistrate Palash Kumar Basu said, “We are operating mobile court to force people to maintain health guidelines. We do not want people to come out of their homes during the lockdown without any urgency.”

“Many people are not wearing masks and roaming unnecessarily. We are fining those who could not give any reasonable reply,” the magistrate added.