The Bangladesh Police have recently launched an app to take applications seeking a pass for movement during the lockdown. It will allow citizens to move out of their homes for up to three hours during the strict lockdown declared nationwide from 14 April to 21 April. The app has also opened up a floodgate of applications from citizens seeming desperate to go outside their homes. According to various media reports, around 15,000 people hit the website every one minute to apply for a ‘movement pass’ since its inauguration on 13 April (11am).By 6:30pm the same day, over 6 lakh people had accessed the website and 60,000 completed their registration. Of them 50% secured the permission.
But, distributing a ‘movement pass’ through online applications amid the ‘strict’ lockdown period seems to be an impractical move/step. The Bangladesh Police – the developer of the app – did not clarify on which yardsticks they would measure the citizens’ need to determine eligibility. The officials involved with the process confirmed, too, that the Police Headquarters server was struggling on the inaugural day due to the pressure of applications. Due to this it was not possible for them to say for which “emergency reason” category, people applied the most for a pass.
The Police have also said that those who have been granted a pass should print and carry it with them as proof of receipt. In a state of ‘strict’ lockdown when all the markets and shops as well as the printing presses have been shut down, it is absurd to ask people for a printed copy of their movement pass. It seems that the people need to buy their own printing machines to print them at home. However, at this point of time, there is no scope to buy a machine either.
Furthermore, people from the bottom later of the economy don’t own smartphones. Nor do they have access to computers or Internet. One is curious as to how these people would obtain a movement pass through online applications. However, Police Chief Benazir Ahmed has come up with a solution to this problem. While talking to media on the issue last Monday, he said: “About seven crore people in the country use Internet. The marginalised population can take help of a neighbour in this regard.” But his idea also lacks practicality. When the government intends to maintain social distancing to keep the virus at bay, this will encourage inappropriate health behavior in time of corona.
At its worst, the ‘movement passes’ could negatively impact on the expected outcome of the weeklong ‘strict’ lockdown. Bangladesh Police have developed the app anticipating the need for emergency behavior but the risk of such a step is that it might boomerang on the original intent and risk management is needed. Many with passes are now moving about for trifling reasons making it difficult for the security agency to handle the situation.
We have insisted time and again, that the lockdown should be strictly followed for a certain period of time. Or else, the infection curves would not be flattened while the death procession would be lengthened.
