Thousands returning to Dhaka amid shutdown

Thousands of people were seen coming to Dhaka from Savar, Manikganj, Barishal, Mymensingh, Gazipur and many other parts of the country amid the nationwide shutdown enforced to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Due to the ongoing suspension of public transport operation, some rode goods-laden vehicles whereas some opted to travel on foot, reports our correspondents.

They were travelling in flocks, ignoring the guidelines of physical-distancing.

Mostly low-income people -- many of whom identified themselves as garment workers -- swarmed the Dhaka-Aricha and Nabinagar-Chandra highways since this morning, reports our Savar correspondent.

This photo was taken from Brahmaputra bridge in Patgudam area of Mymensingh today. Photo: Star

They were riding on crowded trucks and pick-up vans. Contacted, Akram Sakapi Ibne Sazzad, additional commissioner (land) and executive magistrate of Ashulia circle said, steps will be taken if goods-laden vehicles were found carrying people.

The scenario was same on Dhaka-Aricha highway and Paturia ferry ghat, reports our Manikganj correspondent.

Workers gathered at the ferry ghat and on the highway to come to Dhaka. Many were seen riding on trucks and pick-up vans without maintaining the distancing rules.

Local administration is failing to keep the workers at home and get them to maintain distance, said Md Manjur Hosen, executive magistrate at Manikganj deputy commissioner's office.

On Barishal-Dhaka highway, thousands were seen travelling by trucks and small pick-ups.

They could not maintain adequate distance from each other due to high number 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.

Many, upon not being able to avail any transportation, started their journey to Dhaka on foot.

Additionally, hundreds of workers, including garments 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 hauliers, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.