Thousands of people, most of them are garment workers, were seen returning to Dhaka from across the country despite the nationwide shutdown enforced to combat the spread of coronavirus.
They were seen coming to Dhaka since Saturday morning amid the news of garment factories being set to open on April 5.
Due to the ongoing suspension of public transport operation, some used goods-laden vehicles while some opted to travel on foot.
They were travelling in flocks, ignoring the guidelines of physical-distancing.
The garment workers swarmed the Dhaka-Aricha and Nabinagar-Chandra highways since this morning, reports our Savar Correspondent.
They were riding on crowded trucks and pick-up vans defying the government’s order.
The scenario was same on Dhaka-Aricha highway and Paturia ferry terminal, reports our Manikganj Correspondent.
On Barishal-Dhaka highway, thousands were seen travelling by trucks and small pick-ups.
They could not maintain adequate distance from one another due to rush of passengers and lack of vehicles, reports our Barishal Correspondent. One of the passengers, Alamgir (35), said he works at a factory in Dhaka, which is scheduled to open tomorrow.
Barishal Metropolitan Police (BMP) Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Khairul Hasan said that they filed a case against 12 vehicles for violation of traffic rules.
“We are trying to make the passengers aware of the necessity of physical distancing,” he added.
In Gazipur at Maona intersection on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, hundreds of people were seen waiting for vehicles, reports our Gazipur correspondent.
Failing to avail any transportation many, started their journey to Dhaka on foot.
Additionally, hundreds of workers, including garment workers from different upazilas of Mymensingh and adjacent Sherpur and Kishoreganj districts were travelling to Dhaka via Mymensingh since yesterday.
They were seen travelling by auto-rickshaws and human haulers, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.
Earlier, hundreds of thousands of people left the capital after the government announcement of public holiday from March 26 to April 4 amid the outbreak of coronavirus.
