As the government has allowed shops and shopping malls to reopen their doors to shoppers amid the lockdown, there has been a significant rise in vehicular traffic movement on the roads, with congestions in some areas of the capital. Many people are also seen returning to Dhaka from outlying districts through the entry points. Two ferry terminals on the Padma river saw large crowds of people from southern districts. Health rules have not been properly observed though the government announced hard lockdown still remains in place.
It is a dilemma how to balance priorities of life and livelihood over lockdown clamped to protect from the corona pandemic. The government has announced extension of lockdown, till 5 May. Shoppers are thronging the shopping malls and arcades for Eid shopping facing inconveniences for the ongoing ban on public transports. People are travelling by rickshaws, three-wheelers, and even pickup vans and hackney carriages. At some market gates, antiseptic liquids are sprayed instead of alcohol-mixed sanitizers. Besides, there is not enough room inside most shops to maintain physical distancing. Heavy traffic congestions are observed in front of the New Market and the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall.
The Eid-ul-Fitr festival is generally the busiest time for businesses to market men’s, women’s and children’s garments and footwear. Brands and fashion houses release new clothes targeting the Eid market. The Covid-19 outbreak last year made businesses to suffer huge losses. Sellers at New Market said that they expect more customers ahead of Eid this time. Many people like to shop after taking Iftar. Disregarding the timing, many shops were found kept open till late at night in some parts of the city.
The administration must ensure that the shop keepers and shoppers strictly maintain health norms in the markets during this festival-time crowding. All shop and shopping centres should persuade buyers by using posters and public address systems to follow health rules. Shop keepers may refuse selling articles to health rule violators. Because we cannot afford to make the Eid shopping time another occasion of rapid spread of the corona virus pandemic.
