Shafiqul Islam (Shafiq)
Saturday was the second day of the second round of restrictions to prevent the spread of the epidemic corona virus. On this day, the movement of vehicles and people has increased in different areas of the capital. The heavy traffic was created at Shahbagh, Purana Paltan, bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Azimpur, Magbazar and Nabisco areas of the capital for additional vehicles. Rickshaws, CNG-powered auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and private vehicles were plying but no public transport was seen plying on the main roads. The checkpoints at different corners of the road were not very strict. Many have gone out unnecessarily as well as out of necessity. Seeing the situation, it seems that people are not following Corona’s hygiene rules even in lockdown. Many are moving in the crowd. Some people do not wear the mask on their face. They wear masks under the chin.
Public transport is closed due to ongoing lockdown. However, it is not possible to stop the movement of ordinary people in any way. The scene was seen in Gabtali and Aminbazar areas of the capital on Saturday. It has been seen that working people from different parts of the country are constantly entering the capital. Even though long distance transport is closed, thousands of working people are coming to Dhaka in various ways. Many are leaving Dhaka again. People from different districts of the country are entering the capital after crossing the Gabtoli Bridge on foot. No one has to face any police interrogation to come on foot. Again, those who are leaving the capital are facing various problems. People are traveling in rickshaws, private cars, trucks, microbuses, pickups. To go to Savar from Aminbazar, you have to pay extra fare by rickshaw or pickup. They are collecting fare in any way they can. Anwarul was walking on the sidewalk of Asadgate in capital with his bag. He said, I came to Dhaka from Rangpur on Friday night. The bus dropped off at Aminbazar. But I have to go to the signboard in Jatrabari. Until then, rickshaws cost 700-800 TK. It is not possible to go with so much money. So I am crossing the capital on foot.
Members of the law enforcement agencies on the road said most of the people who left the house had hospital documents in their hands. Those who are being questioned are all talking about going to the hospital. In the meantime, mass vaccination activities have started from Saturday. Most say they are going to be vaccinated. As a result more people are leaving the house.
It is learned that after a virtual meeting on August 3, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said at the Secretariat that the current strict restrictions on corona infection have been extended till August 10. From August 11, shops, shopping malls and public transport will be opened and all kinds of government and private offices will be opened. Earlier, the government imposed strict restrictions on all types of offices from July 1 to 14 to prevent corona infection. After that, all the restrictions were relaxed for eight days from July 15 before the Eid-ul-Adha. Later, on July 23, the government again imposed strict restrictions from 6 am to 14 days. Meanwhile, export-oriented industries and factories have been opened since August 1.
