All too relaxed!

Although yesterday was Friday, and almost all the government and private offices were closed, a significant number of people were seen on the streets and kitchen markets in the capital.

A good number of private vehicles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, goods-laden covered vans and trucks were plying the roads of the capital.

Meanwhile, devotees thronged mosques to attend the second Juma prayers of Ramadan.

Moreover, the announcement that shops and malls will reopen from April 25 also gave a sense of relaxation to the city's people.

"Markets may remain open from 10am to 5pm everyday from April 25," read a Cabinet Division notice.

Yesterday, the situation was starkly different from even last week's situation, when police were reluctant to spare even frontline workers during vehicle checks.

But they have since relaxed their grip on the situation, allowing more vehicles to pass through, unchecked.

Talking to this correspondent, auto-rickshaw driver Jafar Ali said in the last few days, many auto-rickshaws from outside Dhaka have entered the capital because of the increasing demand, as public transports remain banned.

Upon visiting some key intersections in the capital's Shyamoli, Asad Gate, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Paltan and Motijheel areas, this correspondent found moderate traffic congestion on the streets.

In Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Paltan and Motijheel, some street vendors had set up shops.

They said they have been incurring losses by remaining shut ahead of the Eid.

The city's kitchen markets were more crowded than any other day, because of the weekend.

People, especially office-goers, got enough time to stock up on their groceries.

Visiting the Town Hall Bazar in Mohammadpur, around 100 private cars belonging to buyers were seen parked in front of the kitchen market around 11:45am.

Traders at the kitchen markets said there were large crowds in the morning.

People opted to visit markets before 12:30pm, as the shopping time would end at 3:00pm, with a break for  Juma prayers, they added.

Many shops besides groceries and pharmacies could be seen operating their businesses, though with shutters half-closed.

Like other days, the alleys also remained crowded with people.

Meanwhile, for the second Juma prayers of Ramadan yesterday, several mosques in Mohammadpur, Panthapath, Kalabagan and Farmgate areas did not follow the religious affairs ministry's instructions regarding health guidelines.

Following the devotees, there was a significant gathering of aid-seekers outside the mosques too.

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.