Lockdown day 4: Traffic increases on Dhaka streets

Streets in Dhaka saw an increased vehicular and public movement on the fourth day of the ongoing countrywide seven-day strict lockdown.

Compared to the previous three days, more vehicles and people were spotted on the roads since morning on Sunday. Gathering at grocery shops and tea stalls in alleys also increased.  

On the other hand, the police arrested 618 people and fined 496 cars Tk1,281,000 in the capital on Sunday till afternoon for flouting lockdown rules.

Another 161 people were fined Tk54,450 by various mobile courts.

While briefing the media on Sunday noon, Iftekhairul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said every division under the DMP was working to properly implement the lockdown.

"The police were taking legal action against those who were violating government instructions. The DMP's eight divisions have already arrested 429 people for violating rules," he added.

On the 4th day of the weeklong lockdown, private cars, motorcycles and rickshaws were seen on the road. Moreover, traffic jams were created in some parts of the highways in the morning.

Many pedestrians were seen walking to their destinations just like in the previous three days of the lockdown.

Some in need of long-distance travel were suffering from a lack of public transport, while some others complained of losing their livelihoods due to the lockdown.

Sherekul Islam who brought his sick wife from Sirajganj to Birdem General Hospital in the capital shared his miseries with The Business Standard.

"We've had to face hassles not only for changing vehicles several times due to the lockdown, but we had to rent an extra car to reach our destination as well," he said.

"People like us can't afford renting a car while having to buy medicine at the same time," Sherekul added.

Meanwhile, Belal Hossain, an assistant to a shopkeeper, said the lockdown has shut down his way of income.

"I have Tk30 in my pocket and I haven't eaten anything since morning," Belal said, adding, "I have been trying to find work, but there is nothing due to the lockdown, I don't know what to do."Md Hossain who was sitting at the Shahbagh intersection to sell coconuts said he could not sell one in the past three days.

"The rich are sitting at home after the announcement of the lockdown, whereas we poor people are forced to come out to find food."

Even though rickshaws saw a rise in demand due to the shutdown of public transport, most rickshaw pullers were unable to meet their passenger quota.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification imposing a number of rules and regulations as part of the lockdown measure from 1-7 July.