Thursday marked the beginning of the strict lockdown being enforced to bring the country’s Covid-19 situation under control. The big roads remained empty, however, people are seen active in the smaller alleys of the capital.
Law enforcement can be seen patrolling throughout Dhaka and making sure that the people remain indoors and shops and stalls remain closed. However, Dhaka is home to numerous alleys and residential areas that seem to remain distant from the radar.
When questioned, Jamil Ahmed of Lalbagh area of the older part of Dhaka said that he and his friends ‘hang out’ every Friday in the neighbourhood.
“We would go indoors if we see any uniformed person in the area but for now, we don’t want to waste our weekend. We are wearing masks and keeping our distance. The police don’t enter into such alleys”, he said.
Almost half an hour after the Jumma prayers were completed, people still crowded some streets in front of the mosques. An elderly man told Bangladesh Post that everyone would remain indoors, hence the only time to meet everyone was after the Jumma prayers.
He said, “We are forced to remain indoors now due to the lockdown. This is the only time everyone can meet each other and talk”
A citizen while smoking on a road of Rayer Bazar area of the capital told this correspondent that everyone is active in such areas.
He said, “The lockdown is for all the offices, businesses and the main areas of the city and it does not matter what goes on in these deeper residential areas.”
Shops and stalls in the steep lanes of Dhaka are seen active in business keeping their shutters open half way. People would walk to the shop and make a purchase but the shutters are immediately pulled down at the sight of a uniform.
Nazrul Alam, a grocery shop owner said that the lockdowns had heavily harmed the business and a total shutdown would be a question of survival for them.
He said, “We don’t have any savings to fall back on especially after last year. If I don’t continue my business, how am I supposed to eat?”
People are seen roaming in the streets outside their houses, sitting on pavements and gathering in discussions and buying from half open shops. The scene at the moment is common in the deeper and smaller streets of the city.
Law enforcers have arrested and fined over hundreds of people in the last two days of strict lockdown. Areas such as Mirpur were highlighted with people being arrested and fined for wandering in the streets for no reason.
Law enforcers remained strict regarding the restrictions and continue to send messages via actions or awareness for the people to follow the guidelines. The Covid-19 situation has taken a horrific turn in the country in recent days breaking previous records of deaths and infections.
However, a big portion of the population remains ignorant of the gravity of the scenario and continue to exploit their chances and go out in areas difficult for the law enforcers to patrol.
Whereas, some may have bound reasons to act illegally in order to survive, many others have no valid reason to remain outside in such a situation.