Sayed Mostak Ahmed: Dhaka, Aug-08,

Amid growing calls for stronger measures to stop the spread of Delta variant, the government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and extended it several times. But the question is whether there is any lockdown in capital Dhaka as everything looks normal?

“This lockdown seems to be pointless when people are allowed to move as they wish.  What we really need are clear rules about the lockdown and its genuine enforcement,” said a retired engineer wishing anonymity.      

The movement of people and vehicles increased significantly on the 15th day of lockdown on Sunday as many people are coming out of their houses for various reasons.

Some people are going outside for vaccination as mass vaccination programme began in the country on Saturday while many more for other reasons as export-oriented factories were opened on August 1.

It is only the shopping malls and eateries that remained closed and public transport stayed off roads as per lockdown rules.

During visits to different areas of the city, the Citizen Times correspondent saw roads were filled with private vehicles and rickshaws as usual.    

In some cases, traffic police were seen handling the pressure of vehicles on roads. Besides, the pressure of vehicles was largely seen in Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Satrasta, Uttara, New Market, Mirpur, Asad Gate, Banani, Gabtoli and Technical points. The searching and checking of people and vehicles at different points of the capital also continued, though loosely.

Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali), said, “The number of vehicles is higher than the previous days and we’re handling traffic manually at Mohakhali and Amtola point.”

However, like previous days, many people were seen returning to the capital through the entry points of the city, including Abdullahpur, Babu Bazar Bridge, Postogola Bridge and Gabtoli on foot.

The mobile courts, led by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), were seen slapping fines and arresting people who failed to show valid reasons for outing.   

The government extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 across the country, but allowed shops, factories and offices to be reopened from August 11.

Public transport will also be allowed to ply roads by rotation on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.

Meanwhile, the government eased the ongoing lockdown from August 11 with a few more guidelines of restrictions in different sectors and people’s movement and gatherings.

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