Immediate after the announcement of a further lockdown from tomorrow (April 5), a large number of people have started leaving Dhaka and different other cities as well.
According to witnesses, thousands of village-bound people thronged different terminals of bus, launch and train so that they could get tickets and reach their own homes.
Abul Kalam, president of bus owners' association of Mohakhali bus terminal, said the number of passengers increased a little in the afternoon on Saturday and most of them were buying tickets for Sunday.
Sources said, as the prevalence of coronavirus has increased in the country, the government is going to enforce lockdown again from tomorrow (Monday). Immediate after the news of the lockdown was spread Saturday noon, huge number of mass-people started leaving the capital. As a result, huge number of additional people rushed to different terminals and stations of bus, launch and train.
According to sources, secretaries of different ministries concerned held an inter-ministerial meeting Saturday afternoon to fix the date of lockdown as the prevalence of corona virus has increased in the country. The meeting decided to implement the lockdown across the country from Monday morning.
Meanwhile, ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, informed about the decision of further lockdown while speaking at a press briefing at his official residence.
Besides, while elaborating about the lockdown, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said all the institutions which provide emergency services will remain open during the lockdown. And industrial factories will also remain open so that workers can continue their work through different shifts and maintaining hygiene rules.
“The main purpose of the lockout will be to control free movement and stop meetings and mass gatherings. If people want to reach their destinations, they would be given time and then the lockdown will be enforced”, said the State Minister for Public Administration
He also said, all the government, semi-government and autonomous organisations will abide by the roster to a limited extent. Movement of inter-district, inter-upazila will be controlled strictly.
He claimed that the situation would be brought under control if the lockdown is observed for a week. Details of the lockdown will be announced soon, he said.
It should be mentioned the government already decided that excepting for emergency services, no train, launch, bus and other transports will move during the lockdown period.
