Syed Shemul Parvez :
Wednesday was the last day of a limited range of lockdowns across the country to control coronavirus infections. Office-going people have suffered a lot due to closing of all kinds of public transports.
It was seen on the spots that hundreds of government and private office employees crowded the different roads and lanes. But there were no buses and minibuses. Rickshaws, however, were seen in limited number.
Even the rickshaws fare was three to four times higher. Many were trying to go to their destinations by expensive ride-sharing motorcycle.
Again, heavy traffic on the highway was contributed by the private cars.
Such a picture of suffering of office-going people was seen in different parts of the city since Wednesday morning.
Monir Hossain works in a private company. He will go to Danmondi from Lalbagh. It takes 10 minutes by bus and 20 minutes by rickshaw. After one and half hour, he got a rickshaw and paid Tk 120 instead of regular amount of Tk 50.
Not only that, he had to wait near the Science lab for half an hour on a rickshaw for the traffic jams on the road due to private cars.
“A limited lockdowns was announced, and our office was open. So I have to go to the office. Jobs must be saved. If I lose my job, I will be in hardship with my family, he added. Ordinary people like him suffer a lot.Who will see these inconsistencies and problems? ‘
The same picture was seen in different places of the capital including Sahabagh, National Press Club, Karwan Bazar, Nilkhet, Gulistan, Jatrabari, Rampura, Shyamoli, Mohammadpur and Asadgate.
Due to the absence of public transports, many walked to the offices. Freight vehicles were seen running in the capital city from different parts of the country.
It is mentionable that last Monday morning, hundreds of employees of different garments in Savar took to the street blocking the Dhaka-Arich Highway as the owners didn’t arrange any transports facilities under their own management.
Earlier, the Cabinet Division issued a notification on June 27. It said all public transports except freight vehicles and rickshaws would be closed across the country. The law enforcement agencies have to ensure the matter through regular patrols.
