Workers stream into Dhaka shunning risk

• Workers’ concerns to get infected by the deadly Covid virus outweighed their fear of losing the jobs

• Many were seen packed like sardines in ferries, trucks, rickshaws and other modes of transportations

• They seemed oblivious to the health guidelines

Government’s decision to resume operations of the export-oriented industries today (August 1) prompted thousands of workers mostly from the ready-made garment segment to return to their workplaces in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and other surrounding areas on Saturday amid the on-going lockdown which was put in place soon after the Eid-ul-Azha on July 23 to tame Covid-19.    

The government kept the strict lockdown enforced suspending all types of public transport on the one hand but took the decision to reopen the export-oriented industries on the other hand, putting the workers and employees on the horns of dilemma. Many were seen packed like sardines in ferries, trucks, rickshaws and other modes of transportations to reach their work destinations in order to prevent the axe from falling. 

These workers’ concerns to get infected by the deadly Covid virus outweighed their fear of losing the jobs as mad rush was noticed almost every entry point towards Dhaka, flouting health guidelines which needed to be followed to fend off the pandemic virus. They seemed oblivious to the health rules as they were struggling to get past each other to catch any kind of transportation headed for Dhaka.

Thousands of workers from Sirajganj, Bogra, Tangail, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Sherpur and Jamalpur were seen rushing to their respective workstations. Due to the suspension of public transport, most were travelling by pickups, trucks, and battery-run rickshaws and rickshaw-vans, some were making their way on foot, while others were waiting for vehicles at different bus stops and intersections, brushing aside social distancing.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said workers currently outside Dhaka were not obligated to join work before the end of the ongoing lockdown on August 5. “In this case, workers do not have to be anxious about losing their jobs,” he assured.

Saidul Islam, a resident of Mymensingh’s Phulpur upazila was reported to have said: “I left home at 4:30am and have yet to see any passenger buses. I reached the Masterbari area in Sreepur by riding on different vehicles as well as on foot.”

Another garment worker, Rabeya Akter, said: “If I do not show up at the factory today, the authorities will mark me as absent for the days I got off.”

Meanwhile, workers waiting for transportation at Chandona Chowrasta in Gazipur complained they had to change their vehicles several times on their way and fork out extra fare.

Abu Said, an RMG worker from Mymensingh, said the government’s decision to allow the factories to reopen while keeping public transport suspended was causing immense suffering to them. 

Meanwhile, the general manager of a garment factory in Gazipur, requesting anonymity, said his organization would incur a huge financial loss if it did not ship its products within the contract period.

Ferry terminals were witnessing massive rush on Saturday as workers of garments and other export-oriented factories have started to return to Dhaka.  As launch services are suspended, ferry ghats are witnessing immense pressure of commuters and private vehicles. 

Thousands of Dhaka-bound commuters are travelling to Shimulia from Madaripur’s Banglabazar as they have to join work today. 

Ten out of 17 ferries are operating on the route on Saturday and the ferries are carrying only commuters, along with a few ambulances and vehicles carrying the dead.

Many of the passengers on the overly crowded ferries were not wearing masks, risking their lives. Over 400 vehicles were seen waiting at Banglabazar ghat around 12pm.

Shahiful Islam, deputy general manager of Shimulia ghat, BIWTC, said “There is no pressure of vehicles and passengers at Shimulia ghat. That’s why, we are unloading the ferries quickly and sending those back to Banglabazar to expedite the services.”

Md Jamaluddin, traffic police inspector of Banglabazar ferry ghat, said 20,000 people were seen waiting at Banglabazar at 10:00am to cross the river.

Meanwhile, people from 21 southern districts are returning to Dhaka via Daulatdia-Paturia route. After getting off the ferry at Manikganj’s Paturia, they are taking trucks, pick-up vans, motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws to reach their destinations, paying five to six times higher fare.

Three ferries left Kazirhaat ghat for Aricha Saturday till 10:00am and no vehicle could board the ferries following the rush of commuters.

Mahabubur Rahman, manager of Kazirhaat ferry ghat and also officer of BIWTA, said each ferry has carried around 2,000 to 3,000 commuters while trucks and motorbikes remain stranded at the ghat. Most of the vehicles could not reach the pontoon due to the crowd, he said.

“Once the ferries anchored at Kazirhaat, they faced difficulties in unloading transports due to the mad rush of people,” Mahabub said.”When the rush increased, we requested police at the ferry ghat to control the crowd so that we can unload the ferries,” he said, adding that ferry services are being hampered due to the crowd.

Many people were found walking into the capital through Abdullahpur Tongi Bridge, Ashulia Bridge, Aminbazar Bridge, Gabtoli, Babubazar Bridge and Postagola Bridge.

Meanwhile, in Dhaka traffic situation was sparse as Gabtoli, Technical Intersection, Kamalapur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, New Market and Mirpur areas and Uttara, Abdullahpur, Banani, Mohakhali, Airport, Satrasta, Kakrail, Matshya Bhaban witnessed less movement of people and vehicles than the normal working days. 

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) has recommended for continuation of the ongoing nationwide lockdown considering the worsening Covid-19 situation.

Talking to journalists, Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam, director general of DGHS, said, “We have recommended the authorities concerned  to continue the lockdown. Vaccination drives, however, will not be hampered amid the lockdown.”

“The infection will definitely rise, if restrictions are withdrawn.” he said. The DG also stated that that there is a plan for one crore vaccination every month.