Amdadul Haque
The government has taken a strong stand to confine people at home and enforce maintaining social distance in public places to prevent the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). However, despite strict enforcement by army and law enforcing agents, people, especially those who seek daily works to survive, are defying or simply ignoring the significance of self-isolation and social distancing.
One such risky place where coronavirus can possibly be transmitted easily is the wholesale markets. It is noticed that both, customers and dealers are not maintaining physical distance in these markets. At the same time, many are found not wearing protective face masks.
Amid the coronavirus scare, there is sudden lockdown all over the country and people are generally not prepared for this. Many people expressed knowing very little about the consequences defying maintaining social distances and wearing face masks. “We are not used to it,” said a man who had come to Kawran Bazar for monthly shopping for essentials.
Mashud Ahmed Rony, another customer in Sylhet unaware of maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks said, “I stocked some essential commodities before announcing the general holiday. I spent all the food and now came today for groceries.” He said, “No one seems to care about maintaining physical distance. The picture is similar in most other markets. In fact, many people get annoyed or give a surprise look when I ask them to maintain distance.”
“Awareness is not the only option to prevent corona transmission. I believe the government needs to enforce stringent measure to impose the orders,” He added. Meanwhile, street vendors are also not following any government directives. They seem to be happy finding regular customers.
Visiting some popular wholesale markets in the city this correspondent found crowd in all the markets. Buyers were found swarming at mostly fish and vegetable markets. Social distancing and wearing face masks were least important to most of the buyers and the vendors.
Meanwhile, patrolling police are found to maintain order and in some cases, they have been found to enforce queueing for buyers.
Some social workers requested the customers to maintain distance. They told everyone, "Please keep distance. It is a virus that can spread through you to the whole family.” Jamal Uddin, a seller from Moulvibazar said that he repeatedly told customers to stand maintaining distance. But they do not care. He said, “If people stand close to each other. What else can we do?”
The government is asking citizens to stay in their homes to prevent coronavirus infection. Under the circumstances, the general holiday was announced from March 26 to April 25. This holiday is likely to be extended. In this situation, people also told not to leave their houses unless it is urgent. The administration is also active in this regard.
