Staff Reporter :
Shopping malls and markets in Dhaka have witnessed a huge rush of shoppers on Monday, just a day after the government allowed reopening their doors ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Eid shoppers flocked to shopping hubs, like Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Jamuna Future Park, New Market, Chandni Chawk, Gausia, Noor Mansion and Chandrima Super Market of the capital city.
Visiting some major shopping malls and markets in the capital city, this correspondent found customers rushed to the shops from 10:00 am. But they were hardly maintained health safety guidelines in the markets.
Many shop owners and customers were seen with their masks down.
At entry points of some markets, antiseptic mix was sprayed instead of sanitisers. Besides, there was not enough space inside most of the shops to maintain physical distancing.
In comparison to yesterday, the number of customers increased, said the shop owners at New Market and Noor Mansion. They think that the crowds will get bigger once public transport resumes.
People were seen traveling in private cars, rickshaws, three-wheelers, and even pickup trucks.
Meanwhile, a significant rise in the public and vehicular movement was seen on the roads for the last two days, with heavy traffic congestion in some areas of Dhaka.
In a circular on Friday, the government allowed shops and shopping malls to remain open from 10:00am, prompting many people to return to the capital.
Meanwhile, the closing time for businesses was extended from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
The road transport minister also hinted that public transport may resume after April 28.
With Covid-19 cases continuing to rise alarmingly from mid-March, the government imposed a nationwide “lockdown” for one week from April 5.
Later, a week-long “stricter lockdown” was declared from April 14, which has been extended till April 28.
