The capital wore a deserted look on Friday — the second day of the stricter lockdown imposed by the government in Bangladesh to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The success of the lockdown can well be attributed to the sincere efforts of law enforcement agencies in convincing the residents to stay off the roads, morning rains and Friday, a government holiday.
The stricter lockdown, which came into effect on Thursday morning, will continue till July 7 midnight.
“On one hand, it’s a Friday and also raining since morning, hence fewer vehicles are seen on the roads. On the other hand, we are letting vehicles go only after thorough enquiries at posts,” said traffic inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali).
“Cases are being filed against anyone caught stepping out of their homes without any valid reason,” he added.
Meanwhile, Army personnel were also seen patrolling the streets of Dhaka, as the government scrambles to bring the Covid-19 situation under control.
Though there were fewer private and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Thursday, rickshaws that provide last-mile connectivity to the residents were seen plying at many places.
Police and Rapid Action Battalion members were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people after setting up check-posts in different areas of the capital.
Kitchen markets in the city remained open, with the government allowing them to operate from 8am to 5pm. However, public transport vehicles remained off the roads as per the government directives.
A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for the stricter lockdown.
Some 550 held for violating lockdown rules
Police arrested 550 people in the capital for violating lockdown restrictions on Thursday, the first day of the complete lockdown.
The arrestees were booked under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ordinance at different police stations of the capital, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Iftekhairul Islam.
Of them, 95 were arrested in Romna, 60 in Lalbagh, 85 in Motijheel, 117 in Wari, 100 in Tejgaon, 87 in Gulshan and six in Uttara.
Meanwhile, 274 vehicles were fined a total of Tk463,050 for flouting lockdown norms. Also, mobile courts sentenced eight people to jail terms and fined many individuals and business institutions for violations on the first day of the stricter lockdown.
Lockdown rules
All the government, non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed till July 7.
All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets in the country will also remain closed.
All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social events, birthday and picnic parties, and political and religious programmes, will also remain suspended until further notice.
The offices, staff and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the lockdown restrictions, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.
However, the restrictions will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production. The offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.
Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.
Kitchen markets and shops selling daily essentials will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure the same.
No one will be allowed to venture out except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/cremation of bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who would violate the restrictions.
Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8 am to 8 pm with takeaway/online services only. Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing vaccine cards.
