Shutdown hardly enforced

Patrolling in the city and elsewhere was lax which led people to come out of their houses amid the countrywide shutdown while gatherings for food and livelihood were seen widely across the capital Dhaka on Wednesday.

While the army troopers and police units were on patrol and in and around the checkpoints set up on major roads to maintain social distancing, many people, cars and rickshaws were seen on city roads amid the ongoing shutdown that began on March 26 to check the spread of COVID-19.

Several hundreds of people were seen waiting or looking for foods or relief on the pavement and beside major roads in the capital and staring at any vehicles crossing them in Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Hatirpool, Panthapath, Karwanbazar, Farmgate, Gulishtan and Johnson Road, among others.

Whenever a car stopped or was parked for a while, people were seen crowding around that vehicle and demanding foods or money.

A small crowd was seen near Darussalam on Mirpur road in the afternoon while the government extended the 10-day public holiday till April 11 to ensure social distancing for fighting the disease while the government also announced that the army would be firmer in dealing with people roaming around the city.   

A 45-year-old Sahara Khatun was among the crowd and said she was desperately looking for food for last three days and walked over 10 kilometres until Tuesday night for food.

‘I had some cash with which I bought 5 kilogram of rice, which is finished by now. My husband is a rickshaw puller and he gets no passenger at present,’ said Sahara, who contributes to her four-member family working as an assistant cook for catering services.

‘I have no job as long the catering services are closed,’ she added.

Though the riding-sharing platforms kept their services closed, motorcycle riders were seen on Wednesday at different intersections in the capital. 

Police on Mazar Road Traffic Box were seen intercepting vehicles towards Gabtoli and preventing them from going anywhere when they found that they had no urgent services to provide.

Similar checkposts were installed at Kataban and New Market, among other places.

The police officials at checkposts told New Age that they were asked to restrict rickshaw playing on the road as well as double pillion on motorbikes.

The rickshaw garage owners were also asked not to rent out their rickshaws until the situation became favourable, officers patrolling the streets said.   

‘Thinking that nothing will happen, people came out. So we are trying to restrict their movement as much as we can,’ said Ramna division deputy commissioner Shazzadur Rahman.

Army and police specialised unit Rapid Action Battalion were seen patrolling with their convoys.

At Haripool kitchen market, army personnel were seen asking people to maintain distance at about 12:00 noon as a private television channel was broadcasting their activities live while at nearby Panthapath, many were seen relaxing on the front stairs of different shops and did not reply when asked why they were sitting there.

Bangladesh army chief General Aziz Ahmed in a meeting chaired by the commerce minister Tipu Munshi said they were ready to deploy as many soldiers as required to tackle the situation.

He, however, added that there was no reason for creating panic.

At Panthapath, a dozen or so youth were seen chatting near a pastry shop and when asked one of them said they were preparing for a cricket match at a nearby area.

In the Nazim Uiddin road area, many Old Dhaka people were seen gossiping on the road and one of them was Shah Alam. He said he was feeling uncomfortable so he came out of the house to cheer himself up.

Near Banglamotor, Mohammad Hasan, along with his friends, was seen gossiping and walking around. He told New Age, ‘I came out for taking tea and I routinely came out in the morning and evening for relaxation.’

‘I heard public announcement but came out as people now got out of fear as the country has hardly any death due to COVID-19,’ said Hasan.

Media reports said similar gathering was seen in other major cities including of Narayanganj.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net