News Desk :
Dhaka residents’ adherence to health regulations has begun to slip on the seventh day of the stringent lockdown designed to curb the coronavirus pandemic, reports bdnews24.com
Authorities are trying hard to increase public awareness of the lockdown restrictions at different parts of the capital as cases and deaths surge. Security forces are patrolling the streets to enforce restrictions. But more people were on the streets in many parts of Dhaka on Wednesday.
Most say they need to protect their livelihoods.
The number of coronavirus infections and deaths has already surpassed all previous records after the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant across the country. But people are not heeding the advice of experts to follow health rules. Many of them do not like wearing masks.
Rain also caused law enforcers to relax their guard somewhat on Wednesday. Larger crowds could be seen in many parts of the capital, including Rampura, Mouchak, Malibagh, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, New Market, Azimpur, Lalbagh, Kellarmor, Bakshibazar, Pallashi, Lalbagh intersections from 7:30 am.
Health workers of some public and private hospitals went to their workplaces on board BRTC double-decker buses.
There was a crowd of rickshaws at Mirpur Circle 10.
Law enforcers were conducting inspections on a long queue of cars and microbuses coming from Mirpur-14.
“In most cases, people are giving sufficient reason to allow them to pass. Those who do not are questioned carefully,” a policeman said.
Many office-goers at the Kalshi intersection and ECB Chattar were seen negotiating with private car and motorcycle drivers.
“Motorcycle drivers are charging more as it’s not possible to travel such a long way by rickshaw. It seems transportation will cost me half my salary during the lockdown,” Uttara-bound passenger Ahmed Kamal said.
Many workers, most of them from garments factories, were seen walking on foot to reach their workplaces in Mirpur.
The authorities advised people through loudspeakers to stay at home and wear masks at Rampura Bazar, Shantinagar Bazar and the Kakrail.
Rickshaws and cars crowded the checkpoints in Malibagh and Kakrail, and law enforcers fined many drivers over the violation of lockdown rules.
“People are not becoming sufficiently conscious of the risks. They do not sense the threat, despite a surge in the daily count of Covid-19 deaths. What can the government do if people won’t stop going outside, even during a lockdown?” said Habibur Rahman, who had come to Shantinagar Bazar to shop.
Kalam, who was waiting for an odd job at Shantinagar, said he had found no work over the last six days. He drove a rented van on Tuesday, but couldn’t afford food for his family as shops are closed. So now he is looking for construction work.
“There is no work. What can I do? How will we survive if there is no work during the lockdown?”
Meanwhile, police arrested 1102 people and fined 804 vehicles in the capital for Covid lockdown breaches on the seventh day Wednesday.
The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,71,980 as fines from 245 people. During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 18,68,500 as penalties from vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Bangladesh is currently under a 14-day lockdown imposed to tame an alarming surge in the Covid infections across the country. Launched on July 1 the nationwide strict curbs will continue until July 14 midnight as both Covid cases and fatalities continue to hit new records.
