The ongoing week-long lockdown, which was supposed to end on July 7, has been extended for one more week.
As per the government decision announced by the Cabinet Division on Monday, the lockdown will continue till July 14.
“The ongoing curb has been extended till July 14 midnight, increasing by seven more days from July 7 midnight, considering the present worst novel coronavirus situation,” the official release elaborated.
All the previous instructions will remain effective during the extended lockdown period.
The government has even asked the concerned authorities including the armed forces division to take necessary actions during this time.
Earlier, the government had decided to impose a nationwide weeklong complete lockdown from July 1.
Under the restrictions, public transport movement will remain suspended whereas factories, especially export-oriented ones, are likely to be exempted from the curb. The banks are also likely to operate on a limited scale.
No one will be allowed to leave home without emergency reasons, according to the restrictions, adding that the army would be called in to assist the police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troopers to enforce the 'strict lockdown'.
Furthermore, all government and private offices will remain closed during the lockdown. All kinds of transports, except those carrying emergency supplies, will remain suspended during the lockdown. However, ambulances and vehicles used for healthcare services and media would be exempted from the curbs.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death toll in Bangladesh crossed 15,065 on Sunday, with the health authorities reporting 164 new fatalities. It took only 15 days for the toll to rise by 1,000, according to the media report.
The total caseload reached 9,44,917 as 8,661 new infections were reported.
People experienced the fifth day, on Monday, of the nationwide lockdown with more people and vehicles on the streets of Dhaka city as well as across the country. Stores have also reopened in some areas outside the notice of law enforcers.
The government imposed the week-long strict lockdown on July 1 and it was supposed to continue till July 7. But, meanwhile, the government in another order on Monday extended the lockdown for another week, which will continue till July 14.
On the fifth day of lockdown, there was heavier traffic and larger crowds in parts of the capital, including New Market, Nilkhet, Hatirpool, Bangla Motor and Green Road areas on Monday.
The situation in the alleys and side roads in Old Dhaka, Azimpur, Lalbagh, Killarmor, Bakshibazar and Pallashi was similar to the past few days, but those in Rampura, Hazipara and Malibagh areas were more crowded.
According to the government’s orders, only shops selling necessities are allowed to open during the lockdown, but all sorts of stores have begun raising their shutters, in violation of health protocols. Store owners quickly pretend to close up when police patrols go by.
Fish, vegetable and dry goods stores in Azimpur’s Chapra Mosque area were open and heavy crowds could be seen in the area.
Stores selling furniture, bedding, sanitary goods, electronics and clothing were open at Mirpur-12. Many of them were operating with their shutters half-closed.
Crowds could also be seen at wet markets and dry goods stores around the city, including Rampura.
A homemaker named Sharmin Akhtar, who had come to Shantinagar Bazar to shop, said that none of the customers at the market were following health protocols. She said she decided not to enter, and bought groceries from traders on the sidewalk outside instead.
“The vegetable traders’ masks are hanging off their necks. If you say anything they complain that they don’t like wearing them all the time.”
There was more traffic on the city’s main thoroughfares as well.
Rickshaws in Kakrail, Malibagh, Mouchak and Paltan are taking more passengers.
Many rickshaw pullers, like many other people from lower-income groups, were not wearing masks.
Only one or two among a group of day labourers waiting for work at the Shantinagar intersection had masks, but they had already pulled them down to their chins.
