Movement of all modes of public transports like bus, train, launch and plane remained suspended while shopping malls and business centres also remained shut on Monday, the first day of a week-long lockdown imposed by the government for the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, except for the public transports, movement of all other transports, including private car, rickshaw, CNG-run auto rickshaw and motorbikes were seen as usual like on other days in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.
But almost all shops and markets for food, essential commodities and kitchen markets remained open as usual with large numbers of customers.
Meanwhile, mass people and office bound employees had to experience immense sufferings due to unavailability of mass transports on the roads.
Besides, a large number of traders and employees of various business establishments took to the streets and staged angry demonstrations demanding relaxation of the lockdown for them considering the upcoming Ramadan.
Witnesses said, many among the mass people were seen coming out for their daily work, and others, to earn their livelihood.
As per the government decision, the lockdown started at 6:00am. The week-long lockdown will remain effective from 6:00am to 6:00pm every day. And during the period, everyone has been asked not to go out of their houses or business establishments. The restaurants have been asked to parcel foods and not to allow anybody to have food sitting inside the restaurants.
While visiting different parts of the capital, this reporter saw that there were hardly any measures to maintain health guidelines as prescribed by the experts, or the government.
On the other hand, as there was no movement of public transports, mass people had to pay high amounts of money for movement by rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and motorbikes.
Meanwhile, traders of New Market, Gauchhia, Elephant Road, Chandrima Super Market and Mouchack areas staged angry demonstrations demanding the opening of their markets. They gathered in front of their markets in the morning and paraded different city roads in processions. They also protested the government decision earlier on Sunday on the same demand.
They said if the government allowed opening their markets, they would run their businesses maintaining all the hygiene rules.
In the face of a second surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided to enforce the lockdown with a view to controlling public movement and transmission of the deadly virus.
As per the government decision, except for the emergency services, all the public transports, including bus, launch, train and even the domestic flight services will remain suspended.
During the lockdown period, people will be able to buy groceries and essentials from kitchen markets from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Besides, the government has issued 11 directives for the restrictions on public movement that came into effect from Monday.
