Curbs in 7 dists around Dhaka largely ignored

Widespread violation marred the first day of the fresh restrictions on public movement and activities in seven districts of Dhaka division on Tuesday to contain the surge in Covid infections while the middle and low-middle income groups of people were the worst sufferers.

Amid the suspension of inter-district bus and passenger ferry services and limited train services in these districts, office-going people and factory-going workers were left in the lurch throughout the day.

They had to pay and spend more time to join workplaces by crowding and changing alternative transports like three-wheeler auto-rickshaws and rickshaws while travelling at the risk of infections as no social distancing was maintained in these transports.

Many even walked to their destinations and many did not wear masks properly.

While the local administrations were seen strict against movement of public transports such as buses and vessels and vehicles, including cars, microbuses, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws, ran in these districts.

Peoples continued to throng ferry terminals, bus stands, kitchen markets and food shops in these districts.

Inter-district buses through these districts had remained suspended since morning while passenger services by ferries and vessels on major routes also remained almost suspended.

On the day, Bangladesh Railway suspended all passenger train services on the Dhaka route.

Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet Division in an order said that all public activities in general, including public movement, in the districts of Manikganj, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj would remain banned from 6:00am June 22 to June 30 midnight considering the coronavirus situation.

The capital is connected to the rest of the country by roads and rivers.

‘Only law enforcement agencies and emergency services like transportation of agricultural inputs, food grains, food and relief distribution, health services, Covid vaccination, electricity, water, gas/fuel, fire service, activities at river ports, government and private telephone-internet services, print and electronic media, private security service, postal service as well as those offices involved in providing essential services, their employees, transports and goods-carrying trucks/lorries will remain out of the purview of the ban,’ said the Cabinet Division order.

New Age correspondent in Narayanganj reported that no vehicles were allowed to leave or enter the district on the first day.

Common people, especially bankers and workers expressed their dissatisfaction as the authorities imposed restrictions on transports while keeping banks and industries open.

Amid heavy rainfall, apparel workers were seen going to factories in the morning by rickshaws and on foot.

Following the restrictions market and shopping malls were closed while food shops and kitchen markets were open.

Boat services in the river Sitalakhya were also closed which shut the communications between Nrayanganj city and Purbapar Bandar upazila which caused huge suffering to working-class people, especially apparel workers.

Police strictly monitored the vehicular movement at Chashara, Signboard and Meghna toll plaza areas while they sent back a few hundred cars, microbuses and buses from Signboard area and Meghna toll plaza areas.

News Courtesy- https://www.newagebd.net/article/141610/curbs-in-7-dists-around-dhaka-largely-ignored