The week-long strict lockdown passed its second day on Thursday amid immense sufferings to the masses including those who are day labourers and live hand to mouth.
Although movement of masses and public transports was very thin compared to the normal days, droves of people and vehicles were seen moving everywhere alongside the emergency services.
Meanwhile, garments workers and people engaged in emergency services had to experience untold sufferings due to lack of transportation services. Thousands of garments workers had to reach their work places or return home on foot as the factory authorities did not arrange transports for carrying them although the factory authorities were supposed to do that.
People engaged in various emergency services had also to experience sufferings for lack of proper transport system.
On the other hand, a large number of people were seen violating the lockdown rules as well as the government instructions while many others were allegedly become victims of harassment. Even some of the doctors were also harassed by police at different places.
It may be recalled that aiming at curbing the transmission of coronavirus, the government imposed a fresh and strict lockdown from 6:00am on April 14, which will last till 12:am on April 21.
Although, police has introduced a system of movement pass for special purposes, sufferings of people were attributed to the lack of coordination among the agencies concerned.
Police said they already provided movement passes to over 2.5 lakh people of capital Dhaka for special purposes.
As per the notification issued by the Cabinet division, during the lockdown, all modes of public transport, including those on road, river, railways and air, will remain suspended.
But the offices related to air transport , maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the purview of the lockdown.
However, the restriction will not be effective in the case of carrying goods, emergency services and production. But industries and factories will remain open on condition of maintaining health protocols. The respective factories or industries must take measures to carry their employees in their own vehicles.
The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations 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), private security management, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction.
Public movement will be restricted and no one will be allowed to go outside except for certain emergency (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc).
Hotels and restaurants can operate from 12 pm to 7 pm and 12 am to 6 am with takeaway/online services only.
All the shopping malls and markets will remain closed during this period. Daily essential items like kitchen items can be sold and purchased from open spaces from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm complying with health protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it.
The local administration concerned will take steps in a coordinated way for carrying agricultural workers for harvesting Boro paddy.
District and field administrations will take measures to enforce the directives in a coordinated way. Law enforcement agencies will strengthen patrol and take legal action against those who will violate the directives.
The Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will take necessary steps to engage law enforcers and local administration on his behalf. Earlier, the government imposed an apparently nationwide loose lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its tougher move to contain the spike in both coronavirus infections and fatalities.
But the government allowed the resumption of public transport in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening shops and shopping malls for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown.
