‘Strict’ Lockdown

If one goes out in the streets of Dhaka, they might mistake the ongoing "strict lockdown" for a public transportation strike -- after all, all sorts of vehicles are plying the streets, save for buses. At some points of the city, there was enough congestion of vehicles and people to cause traffic jams.

Last week, police were reluctant to even spare frontline workers during vehicle checks. But they have since relaxed their grip on the situation, allowing more vehicles to pass through unchecked.

The government extended the ongoing restriction on movement for the third time from yesterday to April 28 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But as the days go by, the number of private vehicles on the streets is on the rise.

This can be attributed to the restriction of movement of buses. More and more people are resorting to rickshaws, rented motorcycles and CNG-run auto-rickshaws to get to their destinations.

Some office-goers said the cost of travel has nearly tripled.

Private service-holder Shamim Ahmed expressed these grievances to this correspondent. "I've been using ride-sharing services to get to Motijheel from Mirpur because there is no public transport available," he said.

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

At College Gate, Asad Gate, Manik Mia Avenue and Farmgate check posts, policemen were seen sitting idly.

Meanwhile, many people yesterday complained they could not avail "movement pass" despite several attempts through the website.

Some staff buses and microbuses were seen on the road yesterday, which were carrying the office-goers.

By dodging the law enforcement agencies, few were carrying passengers in staff bus. A BRTA mobile court caught two buses – a staff bus of a drug company and another BRTC bus in front of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. BRTA Executive Magistrate Taslima Akhter fined the two vehicles.

The situation in the city's kitchen markets is also crowded. Many shops besides groceries and pharmacies are operating their business, often with shutters half-closed.

Talking to The Daily Star, Selim Hossain, a street vendor in Mohammadpur area, said, "If we stay home, we will die of starvation. We need to find some income."

Iftekharul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told the Daily Star that there is no instruction for lax enforcement at the check posts.

"What happened is that the movement of people that are involved in emergency services is increasing. They are using various transportation. Also people are taking to the streets with movement passes for various reasons. Besides, food and goods-laden transports are also running on the road," he said.

"It is not possible to check everyone when there are so many people on the road. This can end up causing further congestion on the road. As a result, we are doing randomised checks," he added.

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.