AS Eid holidays are over, thousands of people are returning to Dhaka from their village homes. Government and private offices reopened on Sunday. Like the home going journey, crowding was witnessed on the ferries and other modes of transport on the return trips too, putting thousands of people as risk of contracting the virus. Many were seen without wearing any facemask let alone maintain social distance.
Health experts have expressed concerns that the people travelling en masse carry the risk of a sharp spike in the number of new cases of Covid-19. Apprehending a grave situation, the Directorate General of Health Services urged the people who left Dhaka ahead of the Eid to return to the capital after 14 days. The detection of a deadlier Indian variant of the virus in Bangladesh has raised serious concerns in recent days. Sources at the Telecommunications and ICT Ministry said at least 10,645,697 mobile phone subscribers travelled out of Dhaka between May 4 and May 15. On Sunday alone, 412,763 people returned to the capital.
Defying the coronavirus restrictions, over 100 buses, which left Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Bogra, Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and other northern districts for the capital, were stopped by police in Sirajganj and not allowed to cross the Jamuna River using the Bangabandhu Bridge. Similarly, some buses violating restrictions were also seen operating between Shimulia and Dhaka, while boats carried passengers across the Padma. But most returnees had to hop on microbuses, cars and auto-rickshaws multiple times to reach Dhaka, paying exorbitant fares as long-haul buses didn’t operate. On the return journey, the travellers didn’t have to wait for long at ferry ghats, as 18 ferries operated between Shimulia and Banglabazar, 16 between Paturia and Daulatdia, and four between Aricha and Kazirhat.
Bangladesh, as a lower-middle-income country, has numerous limitations in restricting the spread of the virus. Only timely measures taken with proper coordination may help fight the virus. The government will not be able to curb the pandemic alone. For this, individual efforts from citizens, direct involvement of the public health experts and international help are urgently needed.
