Public transports off, malls shut as stricter Covid curbs come into play

Public transports went off streets and shopping malls remained shut in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh from Monday morning as the government enforced a “stricter lockdown on a limited scale” in an effort to bring the Covid-19 situation under control.

The alarming surge in cases and deaths related to Covid-19, caused by the highly transmittable Delta variant, prompted the government to announce the three-day so-called lockdown ahead of an all-out nationwide lockdown from Thursday.

Rickshaws and private vehicles were seen dominating the Dhaka streets on the first day of the “limited lockdown.”

People including office-goers were seen waiting on roads for a long time for rickshaws or motorbikes to reach their destinations, reports UNB.

No social distancing is maintained, while many passengers are seen looking for transports at Dhaka-Chittagong highway, during the first day of 3-days country wide strict lockdown, on Monday, June 28, 2021 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Traffic police at different points are stopping vehicles and quizzing drivers and passengers, said Asaduzzaman, traffic inspector of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The Cabinet Division on Sunday had issued a circular over the fresh lockdown, which will remain in force from 6am Monday to 6am Thursday.

Movement of all modes of public transport, except goods-laden vehicles and rickshaws, will remain restricted and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure it through regular patrolling, said the circular.

Also Read-Public transport suspended from Monday as part of new covid curbs

All shopping malls, markets, recreation centres, resorts, community centers, tourist spots will remain shut.

Hotels and restaurants will remain open from 8am to 8pm with online/takeway service.

Heavy gridlock can be seen in Kakrail area of Dhaka during the first day of 3-days countrywide strict lockdown, on Monday, June 28, 2021 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Government and private offices will run with necessary staff only and their respective offices will arrange transports for them. 

The repeated lockdowns, however, have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social life.

But experts hope that stricter rules will bring Covid-19 positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get the second wave of the pandemic under control.

Earlier, the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 on Thursday had recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening situation around country.

No social distancing is maintained, while many passengers are seen looking for transports at Dhaka-Chittagong highway, during the first day of 3-days country wide strict lockdown, on Monday, June 28, 2021 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

A total of 119 people died in Bangladesh in the 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday morning, the biggest figure since the pandemic hit the country in March last year.

During the same 24 hours, 5,268 more cases were also recorded following 24,400 sample tests, according to the health directorate.

However, the country's daily positivity rate fell to 21.59% on Sunday from Saturday's 22.50%.

Until Sunday, the country’s total Covid-19 death toll stood at 14,172 and the total number of cases at 888,406.