Although public transport movement remained suspended, thousands of people have returned to Dhaka on the 9th day of ‘strict’ lockdown on Saturday following the government’s announcement that mills and factories are going to reopen Sunday (Aug 1).
At the entry points of Dhaka, those who had left the capital for Eid-ul-Azha and did not return due to the closure of factories were seen entering the city on foot amid the lockdown.
They were found walking into the capital through Abdullahpur Tongi Bridge, Ashulia Bridge, Aminbazar Bridge, Gabtoli, Babubazar Bridge and Postagola Bridge.
Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj also saw huge crowds as people from south-western districts came back to the capital to join their work.
However, the streets in Dhaka saw a lower number of private vehicles as Saturday is a public holiday.
Visiting Gabtoli, Technical Intersection, Kamalapur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, New Market and Mirpur areas and Uttara, Abdullahpur, Banani, Mohakhali, Airport, Satrasta, Kakrail, Matshya Bhaban, it was found that the number of private vehicles is thinner than working days.
Traffic inspector (Mohakhali) Asaduzzaman, said, “Today is a weekly holiday and that’s why the number of private vehicles and people’s movement in the city are relatively fewer than the working days. Law enforcement agencies are on alert and mobile court drives are operating.”
However, the movement of three-wheeler rickshaws was also thin on roads.
Members of the police, Rab and BGB were seen patrolling the city streets and checking vehicles at check posts in different parts of the capital.
Most shops on main roads remained were closed since morning but the small ones in lanes and by-lanes were found open and those will be shut soon after the scheduled time.
As per the government instructions, only ambulances and those providing emergency services are allowed for movement in the capital.
Reimposed at 8 am on July 23, the second round of strict lockdown will be in force till August 5, unless extended further.
The ongoing stringent lockdown has been recommended for extension after August 5, said the Director General of the Directorate General (DG) of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam on Friday.
“We’ve recommended at the cabinet meeting ten days ago that the restrictions be increased, although no decision has been made yet,” he told reporters.
The DG also said there is no doubt that the situation will get worse if the coronavirus infection rate keeps rising, and that is why the recommendation was made.
