As the government tries to curb the spread of coronavirus infections across Bangladesh by imposing a nationwide lockdown, people in Dhaka tend to disregard the rules.<\/p>\n
Health rules are hardly maintained at the kitchen markets, while cars and autorickshaws are moving around freely. A large number of rickshaws and push carts are also seen on the streets.<\/p>\n
Law-enforcement agencies were far from strict in implementing the rules.<\/p>\n
As government offices and some private companies are open with a limited workforce, some people were seen going to work on foot or by rickshaw in the morning.<\/p>\n
The suspension of public transports brought troubles to morning commuters. A reporter visited Rampura, Malibag, Mouchak, Shantinagar, Kakrail, Bijoynagar, Paltan and Gulistan on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
“Government offices are open, so is the book fair; they are holding matches in a stadium. Does the\u00a0 government want to impose stringent measures only on us?” Mottaleb Ahmed, owner of a construction materials store in Rampura, said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I make a living by running this store and that’s why I\u2019ve kept it open. I\u2019m following the health protocols.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shukkur Ali, a rickshaw driver waiting\u00a0 in a Gulbag alley, transported seven passengers in two hours. \u2018\u2018No-one wants to ride a rickshaw in the alleys, but most passengers want to travel to the main roads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Most of the banks had a long queue of customers outside them. The National Press Club branch of Agrani Bank was one of them. “I am queuing here to withdraw some money and have 43 customers ahead of me. It’s already 10 am now,” a customer said.<\/p>\n
Shopping malls, including\u00a0 Mouchak Market and Twin Tower in Malibag, Karnaphuli Supermarket in Shantinagar remained closed. Most of the small neighbourhood shops, however, were open.<\/p>\n
Cars and rickshaws dominated the roads leading to occasional traffic congestion, said a traffic constable at the Kakrail intersection.<\/p>\n
Restaurants in Rampura, Malibag, Kakrail and Shantinagar remained open.<\/p>\n
A huge crowd was seen at the kitchen markets in Shantinagar and Malibagh Railgate. None of the people wore a mask or followed other health protocols.<\/p>\n
The government banned public transports for seven days as the lockdown started on Monday. It will continue until Apr 11.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The restrictions will apply to markets, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, according to a notice issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday. The 11-point directive allowed the government and private offices and banks to operate on a limited scale. The book fair also remains open. Earlier on Mar 29, the Prime Minister’s Office had issued an 18-point directive in a bid to curb the virus upsurge.<\/p>\n
AN OPPOSITE SCENE IN MIRPUR<\/p>\n
A lockdown has changed the scene in the usually busy neighbourhood of Mirpur. The busy roads were empty as the public transports were suspended.<\/p>\n
A few cars, autorickshaws, motorbikes and rickshaws were seen moving at Mirpur Section 10, Section 11 and Kalshi. Not many people were seen on the streets.<\/p>\n
Office goers, however, complained of the troubles they were facing to commute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bus fare used to be Tk 5 only, but now the rickshaw fare has become exorbitant,\u201d said Mohammad Arif, a superstore clerk, as he began to walk to work to avoid the extra fare.<\/p>\n
A ban on dine-in facilities in restaurants was disregarded. Most of them were crowded with customers. \u201cPeople from the lower-income groups come to eat here. They\u2019re the working class,\u201d said Altaf Hossain, owner of a restaurant in Mirpur.<\/p>\n
Many pedestrians were seen without masks. \u201cI think the risk is low here,\u201d said Sabbir Hossain, who came to buy vegetables from a roadside vendor without wearing a mask in Mirpur.<\/p>\n
MOHAMMEDPUR, SHYAMOLY BUSY AS USUAL<\/p>\n
Mohammadpur, Shyamoli and Kalyanpur were found to be busy as usual. The streets were full of cars, autorickshaws, motorbikes and rickshaws. Pedestrians were moving freely without wearing masks — a common sight in those neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n
In Kalyanpur, ticket counters of the long-haul buses remained closed in the morning. A double-decked BRTC bus was seen running from Mirpur to Shyamoli.<\/p>\n
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