Third day of lockdown: 184 people detained for flouting restrictions

As the week-long lockdown entered its third straight day, the number of both people and vehicles taking to the streets increased a bit compared to the first two days.

However, police, rab, and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen even more active in checking movement of people and vehicles.

DMP Additional DC (media) Iftekharul Islam said 184 people have been detained until Saturday noon, while Tk50,640 fined for flouting lockdown rules.

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Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain (Rajlaxmi Uttara), said: “The number of vehicles is higher than the last two days but we are also active and allowing only those who have valid reasons to come out.”

He said authorities lodged a number of cases over the violations of the restrictions.

Rickshaw and van pullers are finding it difficult to earn their daily bread as Dhaka streets remain mostly empty on the third day of the nationwide hard lockdown on Saturday, July 3, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

The government imposed a seven-day lockdown from July 1 to contain a surge of Covid-19 infections across the country. It will continue until July 7 midnight.

Law enforcers - rab, police and army - were seen patrolling the roads to keep people and vehicles off unless they can prove any emergency.  

They set up check-posts in different areas of the capital including Mirpur Road, Mohakhali, Uttara, Airport Road, Farm Gate.

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Kitchen markets in the city remained open, with the government allowing them to operate from 8am to 5pm. However, public transport  stayed off the roads as per the government directives.

A number of shops were also seen open in different alleys.

Lockdown rules

All the government, non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed till July 7.

All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets in the country will also remain closed.

All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social events, birthday and picnic parties, and political and religious programmes, will also remain suspended until further notice.

A Border Guard Bangladesh trooper uses a loudhailer to warn the public at Tejgaon area of Dhaka on the third day of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown on Saturday, July 3, 2021 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

The offices, staff and vehicles of the organizations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the lockdown restrictions, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.

However, the restrictions will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production. The offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.

Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.

Pathao food deliverymen waiting idly for orders at Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday, July 3, 2021 Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneKitchen markets and shops selling daily essentials will remain open from 9am to 5pm, and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure the same.

No one will be allowed to venture out except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/cremation of bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who would violate the restrictions.

Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8am to 8pm with takeaway/online services only. Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing vaccine cards.