uncaring health rule

Despite concerns of health experts, the government was apparently compelled to allow markets and shopping malls open amidst the ongoing lockdown to keep the Eid festival vibrant and the wheel of the country's economy moving.

The government, in a position where could neither defy the demand of the shop owners nor avoid the concerns of surge in corona infections, had to take the decision as the Eid is approaching centering which the businesses make year's biggest profit.

Following repeated promises of maintaining hygiene rules strictly by the shop owners, the government made a slight shift from its stance and allowed malls and shops open, but the reality is the health guidance are kept apart from their concerns.

In the health guidance announced by the government, it was said everyone who goes to the market must wear mask and maintain social distancing as per the hygiene rules. But in reality, there is a difference. Most people do not follow the rules. Neither the buyer nor the seller - no one is aware of hygiene and not wearing masks. This scenario has been seen at different markets and shopping malls in Dhaka.

A team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police raided New Market to enforce hygiene rules. Wherever the team led by an executive magistrate goes, everyone is shopping at a distance by wearing a mask. The scene changed soon after the magistrate leaves.

On the pretext of taking a deep breath in the heat, a mask comes down from the mouth to the chin or throat. Someone is absolutely in the pocket. And the obligation to stay three feet away, that is, to maintain social distance, is nowhere to be seen seen in the markets and shopping malls in Dhaka.

Executive magistrates and market authorities on the campaign say everyone needs to be aware to protect themselves and others from the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the fact that the virus has infected more than 7 lakh people in the country and more than 11 thousand deaths, some people are neglecting to follow the hygiene rules to protect from corona.

Buyers are being miked by market authorities to comply with hygiene rules, and those coming without masks are being barred from entering. The executive magistrate and the accompanying police members are alerting the public and are being fined.

Two executive magistrates carried out drives against those violating health rules at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall and New Market area.

The drives began around noon. The executive magistrates visited shops and fined shopkeepers and customers who were not wearing masks. Around 12:45pm, executive magistrate Sanjib Das fined Asian Jewellers in New Market Tk 500 after the mobile court found one of its employees without mask.

The magistrate told the shop employees that he fined a very insignificant amount of money as they are conducting drives to raise awareness.

He, however, warned that the mobile court would slap a hefty fine for similar offence for the second time. Later, talking to reporters, Sanjib said they found almost all shopkeepers and customers wearing masks in the shopping complex.

"Our aim is not to charge fines but to raise awareness in following health rules," he said.

“We will conduct campaigns as long as we need to make people aware of this. If the people are not aware but we will not be able to reach the desired goal by conducting campaigns. That's why we want to send a message to those who don't follow the hygiene rules will actually face fines,” he added.

Aminul Islam Shahin, president of the New Market Business Association, also expressed frustration over the lack of awareness among buyers. He told, “We have been talking about the surveillance of the administration since the market was launched. Monitoring has started from today. Many of the buyers are indifferent. They need to be aware of themselves. We are asking for hygiene by miking every day. Now most buyers and sellers are wearing masks. But the crowd is not going to decrease.”

Meanwhile, shopkeepers gather in front of China Town shopping mall after Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity shut down the market for around four hours due to lack of health safety rules.

China Town shopping mall in Dhaka's Paltan area was shut down for around four hours after its authorities failed to follow health safety rules Tuesday morning.

Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, an association of shop owners, shut down the market around 9:30am after its leaders found violation of health rules there.

“Many shopkeepers were seen without masks; shopkeepers and customers were seen using both gates for exit and entry, and maintaining no physical distancing. Because of this, we shut down the market," Helal Uddin, president of the association, told the newsmen.

He said, "We have adopted zero tolerance in this regard. There is no chance to operate any mall without maintaining health rules. We will continue our drives."

Helal, however, said they later allowed the authorities to open the market after they pledged to ensure health rules will be followed.

Another mobile court has fined 17 people at the Basundhara City shopping mall for defying health protocols. The court punished customers and traders at the shopping mall in Dhaka’s Panthapath, fining them a total of Tk 5,500.

The mobile court led by Executive Magistrate of Police Sheikh Rafiqul Haque conducted the drive for one and a half hours on Tuesday. Nearly all offenders disregarded mask rules, either by not wearing one or wearing it improperly.

“My mask was torn, so I couldn’t wear it. Though the fine amount is quite high, I believe the magistrate did the right thing,” said Riyad, a customer, who was fined Tk 500 for not wearing a mask. “Awareness regarding health protocols is important.”

Ali Asgar, an employee of clothing store Imran Fashion, was fined Tk 1,000. Asgar took off his mask for some time because he felt hot when the power went out in the mall.

Roksana, another customer, said she pulled down her mask as she was unable to breathe amid the hot weather. She was fined Tk 200.

“Each person should follow the health protocols. Both the customers and sellers should wear masks and maintain social distancing and other rules. Today we found many people defying the health protocols. Some store employees are working without wearing masks,” said the executive magistrate.

“We have filed cases against 17 people during the drive and fined them a total of Tk 5,500.”

Dhaka Metropolitan Police will continue its efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus infection, he said.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has decided to extend its current pandemic restrictions to May 16.

Long-haul buses, trains and launches will also remain closed, but public transport will be allowed to resume with strict rules within the boundaries of cities and districts on May 6, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told the media on Monday.

 “Strict action will be taken against anyone who doesn’t wear a mask,” he said. “From today, police, city corporations and the local administration will supervise markets across the country.”

 “If there are too many people at these markets, that may not be controllable, but if there are too many people without masks wandering around, then the markets will be closed. We hope that the store owners’ associations will support us on this matter,” Islam said.

Asked whether people returning home for Eid celebrations would suffer, the cabinet secretary said: “There are three public holidays set aside for Eid. Two of these days are Friday and Saturday. There will be no additional holiday after these three days.”

Bangladesh on Apr 14 imposed what it came to be known as the ‘strictest lockdown’ in which people were barred from going outside, except for an emergency, in an effort to contain a massive spike in COVID cases.