People desperate to go out of home on various pretexts

Some people are going to far-off markets riding on rickshaws to buy stinging catfish or a kite. Some are even coming out of home on personal vehicles to buy "reshmi jilapi".

This is how an affluent class is celebrating the "all-out" lockdown imposed by the government to curb the sharp rise in Covid-19 infections and fatalities.

Scores of Dhaka residents are seen out in the streets amid the ongoing strict lockdown. Under the pretext of medical emergencies or buying iftar items, many continue to venture out of their home.

 Police and other government officials who have been deployed to maintain the lockdown protocols claim half of the people who came out of home on Saturday did so saying they were on their way to the hospital, while, in many other cases, civilians failed to provide a reasonable answer when asked about their destinations.

Md Kamal Hossain, a resident of the capital's Banglamotor-Kathalbagan area, was stopped by police personnel at the Shahbagh check post and was asked why he came out of home.

In response, Kamal opened his shopping bag and showed a ceiling fan. He claimed he was going to Keraniganj to repair the fan, as it had not been working.

"Amid the scorching summer it's quite unbearable to stay home without a fan," Kamal Hossain told police members at the check post. 

However, when police asked why he was not having the fan repaired at a nearby electrical shop, Kamal was reluctant to answer and remained silent for about a minute.

Later, he showed his feature phone and told police that as he had no smartphone, he could not obtain a "movement pass" to come out of home.

One of these correspondents waited for about 45 minutes at a check post in front of Bangladesh Television headquarters in the capital's Rampura. At least 12 people told police personnel that they came out of home as their relatives suffered strokes or heart attacks.

Most of them, however, could not come up with a satisfactory answer when the law enforcers asked more questions about their destination and the patients' details.

Zulfiqar Ali, assistant commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Khilgaon zone, told The Business Standard that in most cases people replied that they were going to a hospital to see their ailing relatives or family members.

"But, some of them are not telling the truth which is why the real hospital-goers are being questioned at checkpoints. When police officials ask several questions, they try to create a scene," he added.

An inspector of Rampura police station said one youth claimed that his uncle suffered a stroke and that he was going to the hospital to see him.

But when police asked enquired about his uncle's details, he called the very uncle who later came to his rescue at the check post within 10 minutes riding a motorcycle. "This is how people are making an excuse to come out of home," said the inspector.

Md Robiul Islam, assistant commissioner of Dhanmondi Revenue Circle, told TBS that it afternoon on Saturday, traffic congestion was created at the Dhanmondi 27 area.

"When we went to the scene, we saw that hundreds of people were buying reshmi jiplai for iftar after parking their cars at Dhanmondi roads, which led to the tailback," he added.

Another police official wishing not to be named told TBS that many people come out much before the iftar time in the name of buying iftar items and wander around indiscriminately or pass time gossiping.

Meanwhile, the ongoing lockdown has caused income losses to the daily wage earners and limited-income people and induced suffering to those who need to go out of home on various emergencies.

Jahangir Hossain has been pulling rickshaws in the Hatirpul area for a long time. His income has dropped by about 70% in the last few days of the lockdown.

Even though people are out in the streets, he cannot take the passengers to their destination, as police personnel stop the rickshaw on the road.

Even though it is the month of Ramada, Jahangir is not able to fast due to rickshaw pulling. After completing one or two trips he has to drink water or have something else.

He was having bread with a cup of tea at a tea shop in Hatirpul around 11 am on Saturday. The store was half shuttered.

Rickshaw puller Jahangir told TBS that he has been suffering a lot due to the closure of food shops amid the lockdown. "On the one hand there is no income and on the other hand cheap food shops are not allowed to remain open. How will we live? It is better to die from the coronavirus than dying without food."

A tea stall owner wishing not to be named said, "We also have to feed ourselves. Customers too insist on keeping the shop open. Therefore, sometimes I run the shop keeping it half shuttered."

Sabina Haque, who came to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for treatment, told TBS that she had to come to the doctor by rickshaw from Shyamoli. "I had to come here using various roads, as the police did not allow me to come through the main road. On the one hand, I had to spend extra money. On the other hand, I had to undergo suffering. This lockdown has created a lot of suffering for ordinary people like us."

Fishmonger Monir said he had barely any sales in the last several days. "I can sell 2-3 fish a day."

People who go out for a coronavirus test or vaccination are the worst sufferers. As most of them do not have their own cars, they have to depend on rickshaws or CNGs or have to travel on foot.

Saikat Zaman, who came to the BSMMU on Saturday to give samples for the corona test, told TBS that he had to wait for about an hour even after applying online. What is more, he had to change rickshaws thrice to come to the hospital from Malibagh because of the lockdown.