Life almost normal in Dhaka under lockdown

Staff Correspondent: As the ‘strict’ lockdown rolled into its 5th straight day yesterday, the streets in capital Dhaka saw a higher number of private vehicles with people trying to pick up the social life amid the worsening Covid situation.
When the restrictions were reimposed just after Eid-ul-Azha, the roads in the capital had fallen silent in the past few days.
But now things are changing fast with every passing day as the roads are becoming busier with the bustle of vehicles with many people returning to Dhaka defying the Covid restrictions and warning by health authorities.
Visiting Uttara, Abdullahpur, Banani, Mohakhali and Gabtali, Shyamoli, Asadgate and Mirpur areas, the correspondent found a quite normal view of busy roads in the capital.
“People are showing numerous excuses for being out whenever we stop them at check posts,” said traffic inspector (Mohakhali) Asaduzzaman.
“However, we’re trying our best to allow only those who have valid reasons for coming out and filing cases against those who’re unable to justify getting out of home,” he said.
At different important points of the capital, members of the police Rab and BGB were seen patrolling and interrogating people and checking vehicles at check posts. Meanwhile, the two city corporations with other organizations
conducted mobile courts to prevent the unnecessary movement of people and force them to maintain health rules and government-imposed restrictions.
Most shops on main roads remained closed since morning but the small ones in lanes and by-lanes were found open.
The number of rickshaws was notably higher than the last few days of lockdown.
Some of the rickshaw-pullers said many have left the capital as they were unable to earn enough to survive in the lockdown.
As per the government instructions, only ambulances and those in emergency services are allowed for movement in the capital.
Reimposed at 8 am on July 23, the second round of strict lockdown and it will be there in force till August 5 next, unless extended further.
Going through the most frightening stage of Covid-19, Bangladesh registered another highest single-day death toll of 247 in 24 hours till Monday morning.
Besides, the highest-ever 15,192 cases were reported during the period after testing 50,952 samples, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Hospitals across the country are struggling to treat the growing number of patients amid shortage of beds and medical supplies.
With Covid’s Delta variant spreading fast, the country’s fatalities had been hovering at nearly 200 for the last two weeks. It reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 231 – on July 19 and 13,768 infections on the 12th of the month.