Bangladesh cities wear deserted look on 2nd day of restrictions

The photo taken on Thursday shows that a team of Rapid Action Battalion stops a private car at Shibbari intersection in Khulna city. — Focusbangla photo

The cities of Bangladesh wore a deserted look on Friday, the second day of the weeklong countrywide strict restriction imposed by the government to contain the surge of Covid deaths and infection.

Law enforcement agencies, as well as army and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel, were seen active on the roads and even at the inner areas of the cities, including the capital, New Age correspondents reported.

The highways, district roads and main roads in the cities remained almost free of traffic except some rickshaws and private vehicles, New Age correspondents in Khulna, Rajshshi, Chattogram, Gazipur and Narayanganj reported.

‘There is almost none on the roads. It wore a deserted look. I had to show prescription twice to police in nearly one kilometre,’ Shafi Ullah, a resident of Dolkhola in Khulna city who went to Tarerpukur to buy medicine, told New Age.

Asadul Islam of Narayanganj city’s Siddhirganj echoed the same.

All government and non-government offices were closed as per the government order while shopping malls, markets and most of roadside shops also remained closed all over.

Members of law enforcement agencies were seen at various points in major cities, including the capital, highways and ferry terminals verifying identities of the people who came out of home.

The government on Wednesday ordered the restrictions, banning movement of people outside their houses without emergency.

Shopping malls, markets and shops shall remain shut while operation of all modes of public transport and all types of motorised vehicle as well as domestic flights shall be halted from 6:00am on July 1 to July 7 midnight, according to a circular of the Cabinet Division issued on Wednesday.

United News of Bangladesh reported that the success of the restriction could well be attributed to the sincere efforts of law enforcement agencies in convincing the residents to stay off the roads, morning rains and Friday, a government holiday.

The stricter restrictions, which came into effect on Thursday morning, will continue till July 7 midnight.

‘On one hand, it’s a Friday and also raining since morning, hence fewer vehicles are seen on the roads. On the other hand, we  are letting vehicles go only after thorough enquiries at posts,’ said traffic inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali).

‘Cases are being filed against anyone caught stepping out of their homes without any valid reason,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Army personnel were also seen patrolling the streets of Dhaka, as the government scrambles to bring the Covid situation under control.

Though there were fewer private and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Thursday, rickshaws that provide last-mile connectivity to the residents were seen plying at many places.

Police and Rapid Action Battalion members were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people after setting up check-posts in different areas of the capital.

Kitchen markets in the city remained open, with the government allowing them to operate from 8:00am to 5:00pm. However, public transport vehicles remained off the roads as per the government directives.

A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for the stricter restrictions.

Earlier on Thursday, police arrested 550 people in the capital for violating restrictions.

New Age