Malls reopen, roads see heavier traffic

As the government allowed shops and shopping malls to reopen their doors for shoppers amid the "lockdown", a significant rise in public and vehicular movement was seen on the roads yesterday, with heavy traffic congestion in some areas of the capital.

At the same time, many people were seen returning to Dhaka from their districts through the entry points -- Babu Bazar, Amin Bazar Bridge and Tongi Bridge areas. Two ferry terminals on the Padma river saw large crowds from southern districts, ignoring the risks of contracting coronavirus while travelling.

After 11 consecutive days, shops and shopping malls reopened yesterday.

Shopkeepers said the number of customers was low yesterday, as many people have gone back to their village homes. The owners think that crowds will get bigger once public transport resumes.

Visiting some major shopping malls and markets in the capital like New Market, Chandni Chawk, Gausia, Noor Mansion, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Shah Ali Shopping Complex, and Mirpur Muktijoddha Supermarket, this correspondent found many shoppers pouring into the shops from 10:00am onwards due to the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

However, an ongoing ban on public transport created an inconvenience for both shop owners, workers, and consumers.

People were seen travelling on rickshaws, three-wheelers, and even pickup trucks and horse carriages, especially in the old parts of Dhaka.

This correspondent found that only a few health safety guidelines were maintained in the markets.

At some market entry points, antiseptic mixture was sprayed instead of alcohol-mixed sanitizers. Besides, there was not enough room inside most of the shops to maintain physical distancing.

Heavy traffic congestion was seen in front of New Market and Bashundhara City Shopping Mall.

Md Sumon, proprietor of Baby Corner at Shah Ali Shopping Complex in Mirpur, which sells children's clothing, said the peak time for their business is pre-Eid. But this time, parents are scared to come to markets with their children because of the pandemic. Besides, people are also facing financial crises amid the "lockdown", he said.

Rabbi Islam Abir, who sells unstitched three-pieces at Chandni Chawk Market, told The Daily Star that customers used to buy products before the 15th of Ramadan since they later have to tailor the clothes. But this time, there is not enough customers yet, he said.

Rakibul Hasan, owner of Afia World at Bashundhara Shopping Mall, said that although they could open shops for a limited time, it wouldn't bring much profit.

"The rent of this shop is Tk 60,000 per month. Besides, we have four staff. Since the last year, we are facing huge losses," Rakibul said.

Eid-ul-Fitr is generally the busiest time for businesses but last year's Eid was celebrated amid the Covid-19 outbreak and businesses suffered huge losses, they said.

Sellers at New Market said that they expected more customers ahead of Eid. Shop owners are, however, happy that they could reopen after 11 days.

"Eid is nearby. It's very hot during the day time. Many people would like to shop after Iftar," said Asgar Ahmed, a readymade garments shop owner at Bashundhara Shopping Mall.

Disregarding the timing, many shops were found open and operating till night yesterday in some parts of the city.

The announcement that shops and malls would reopen from April 25 also gave a sense of relief to city dwellers. The road transport minister yesterday even hinted that public transport may also resume after April 28.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government will be forced to impose strict lockdown again if people do not follow health guidelines once public transport services are resumed after the ongoing lockdown ends.

He called for strict adherence to safety rules in shopping malls, shops and markets.

TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON ROADS

The pressure of vehicles on city streets was higher than other days during the ongoing "lockdown".

Visiting some key spots in the capital like Mirpur, Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Airport Road, Banani, Uttara, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi and Farmgate, this correspondent found moderate to high traffic congestion on the streets.

On Airport road, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Rampura and Badda, there were tailbacks from morning to noon with hundreds of private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and goods-laden covered vans and trucks, plying the road. In the afternoon, there were traffic congestions on Panthapath and Mirpur road.

However, no public transport was seen on the city streets.

Although police said those who will come out of their houses for shopping will need a "movement pass", in reality, there was no effort to check those. This correspondent crossed several check-posts in some key-points of the city where police were seen sitting idle.

In a circular on Friday, the government allowed shops and shopping malls to remain open from 10:00AM, prompting many people to return to the capital.

Meanwhile, the closure time of the businesses has increased from 5:00PM to 9:00PM.

Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said that they had a talk with Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday when they got permission to keep the shops and shopping malls open till 9:00PM in the metropolitan area.

DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that it's a government decision and they conveyed the message to the shop owners.

Meanwhile, although ferries were supposed to carry vehicles for emergency services only, they were forced to carry small vehicles across the Padma as well. Many people, especially the low-wage earners, crossed the river on trawlers and speedboats, ignoring health restrictions.

A similar scenario was found at the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal.

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.

As the government allowed shops and shopping malls to reopen their doors for shoppers amid the "lockdown", a significant rise in public and vehicular movement was seen on the roads yesterday, with heavy traffic congestion in some areas of the capital.

At the same time, many people were seen returning to Dhaka from their districts through the entry points -- Babu Bazar, Amin Bazar Bridge and Tongi Bridge areas. Two ferry terminals on the Padma river saw large crowds from southern districts, ignoring the risks of contracting coronavirus while travelling.

After 11 consecutive days, shops and shopping malls reopened yesterday.

Shopkeepers said the number of customers was low yesterday, as many people have gone back to their village homes. The owners think that crowds will get bigger once public transport resumes.

Visiting some major shopping malls and markets in the capital like New Market, Chandni Chawk, Gausia, Noor Mansion, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Shah Ali Shopping Complex, and Mirpur Muktijoddha Supermarket, this correspondent found many shoppers pouring into the shops from 10:00am onwards due to the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

However, an ongoing ban on public transport created an inconvenience for both shop owners, workers, and consumers.

People were seen travelling on rickshaws, three-wheelers, and even pickup trucks and horse carriages, especially in the old parts of Dhaka.

This correspondent found that only a few health safety guidelines were maintained in the markets.

At some market entry points, antiseptic mixture was sprayed instead of alcohol-mixed sanitizers. Besides, there was not enough room inside most of the shops to maintain physical distancing.

Heavy traffic congestion was seen in front of New Market and Bashundhara City Shopping Mall.

Md Sumon, proprietor of Baby Corner at Shah Ali Shopping Complex in Mirpur, which sells children's clothing, said the peak time for their business is pre-Eid. But this time, parents are scared to come to markets with their children because of the pandemic. Besides, people are also facing financial crises amid the "lockdown", he said.

Rabbi Islam Abir, who sells unstitched three-pieces at Chandni Chawk Market, told The Daily Star that customers used to buy products before the 15th of Ramadan since they later have to tailor the clothes. But this time, there is not enough customers yet, he said.

Rakibul Hasan, owner of Afia World at Bashundhara Shopping Mall, said that although they could open shops for a limited time, it wouldn't bring much profit.

"The rent of this shop is Tk 60,000 per month. Besides, we have four staff. Since the last year, we are facing huge losses," Rakibul said.

Eid-ul-Fitr is generally the busiest time for businesses but last year's Eid was celebrated amid the Covid-19 outbreak and businesses suffered huge losses, they said.

Sellers at New Market said that they expected more customers ahead of Eid. Shop owners are, however, happy that they could reopen after 11 days.

"Eid is nearby. It's very hot during the day time. Many people would like to shop after Iftar," said Asgar Ahmed, a readymade garments shop owner at Bashundhara Shopping Mall.

Disregarding the timing, many shops were found open and operating till night yesterday in some parts of the city.

The announcement that shops and malls would reopen from April 25 also gave a sense of relief to city dwellers. The road transport minister yesterday even hinted that public transport may also resume after April 28.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government will be forced to impose strict lockdown again if people do not follow health guidelines once public transport services are resumed after the ongoing lockdown ends.

He called for strict adherence to safety rules in shopping malls, shops and markets.

TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON ROADS

The pressure of vehicles on city streets was higher than other days during the ongoing "lockdown".

Visiting some key spots in the capital like Mirpur, Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Airport Road, Banani, Uttara, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi and Farmgate, this correspondent found moderate to high traffic congestion on the streets.

On Airport road, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Rampura and Badda, there were tailbacks from morning to noon with hundreds of private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and goods-laden covered vans and trucks, plying the road. In the afternoon, there were traffic congestions on Panthapath and Mirpur road.

However, no public transport was seen on the city streets.

Although police said those who will come out of their houses for shopping will need a "movement pass", in reality, there was no effort to check those. This correspondent crossed several check-posts in some key-points of the city where police were seen sitting idle.

In a circular on Friday, the government allowed shops and shopping malls to remain open from 10:00AM, prompting many people to return to the capital.

Meanwhile, the closure time of the businesses has increased from 5:00PM to 9:00PM.

Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said that they had a talk with Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday when they got permission to keep the shops and shopping malls open till 9:00PM in the metropolitan area.

DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that it's a government decision and they conveyed the message to the shop owners.

Meanwhile, although ferries were supposed to carry vehicles for emergency services only, they were forced to carry small vehicles across the Padma as well. Many people, especially the low-wage earners, crossed the river on trawlers and speedboats, ignoring health restrictions.

A similar scenario was found at the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal.

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.