Amdadul Haque
The country is in a state of shutdownfor nearly 45 days, but most people have not been following the rules to stay at home and not undertake any unnecessary journeys.
Starting with breaking lockdown rules, people across the country are continuing to come onto the roads and highways to go to their respective workplaces or shops and shopping malls.
On the other hand, when the number of deaths and transmission cases from Covid-19 is showing an upward trend, the opening of shops and shopping malls is inviting more people to be part of crowds that may bring a curse for the nation, experts fear. Shortly after the confirmation of the first coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, the government shutdown educational institutions, and followed up with a general holiday shutting down all non-essential services. Millions left the city and the low-income people, daily wage earners and many of those involved with the informal sector were left without jobs.
Recently, the government announced allowing shops and shopping malls to operate by maintaining health guidelines. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said, the people are suffering a lot due to the shutdown, and noted that the government is trying to reopen some sectors gradually.
With the permission of the government to open the market on conditions, small shops have also started opening. As a result, the physical distancing is becoming more lax. The presence of people outside the house is increasing.
Such scenes were witnessed in different areas including Mohakhali, Mirpur, Agargaon, Mohammadpur and Rampura.
As businesspeople were allowed to keep shopping malls and markets open on a limited scale, some of them reopened their shops in different parts of the country, including Dhaka and Chattogram, while some kept their businesses shut due to a dilemma over the virus.
All the businesspeople in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chandpur and Feni and a significant number of them in Chattogram and Dhaka have decided to keep their businesses shut until Eid-ul-Fitr to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Most shopping malls in the capital will remain shut for now considering the present coronavirus situation, according to Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association (BSOA).
Small businesses are also opening with big shopping malls and markets. Almost all types of shops including tea stalls, furniture, hardware, and toy shops have been opened.
Tea shops are bustling. The low-income people are coming outside more. Shopkeepers said their business has been closed for a month and a half and their backs are against the wall.
In Moghbazar, this reporter talked to one Abdul Halim, a carpenter turned shop owner, who said, “I started my own shop while working as a carpenter. My shop has been closed for a month and a half. Eid is ahead, and there were some previous orders. So I am opening my shop.”
A hawker in Motijheel said, “How long can we eat at home? How much more time can we keep a small shop shut? Even if the shop is opened, there are no customers.”
After the announcement of opening the market, various offices are also opening. That is why the number of people has increased outside. There are a lot of people everywhere now. Roads that had become almost empty are also slowly returning to their former glory.
The corona virus is on the verge of taking a terrible turn in the country. A record 1034 people were infected with coronavirus in one day in the country on Monday.
Experts said that the next three weeks are very risky. Social transmission of the virus can occur at a high rate during this time. As there are no specific drugs or vaccines to prevent coronavirus, there is no alternative to public awareness.
Experts warn that the risk of spreading coronavirus will increase. Everyone has to follow the health rules. But after the lockdown relaxed, people came out of the house. Crowds of people have been seen in alleys including roads, markets, shopping malls and shops since Sunday. The movement of private cars has also increased.
When the infection in the country is on the rise, the lockdown has been relaxed. Most of the garment units have been reopened, the rest is waiting to be opened. Workers are coming to Dhaka in groups.
A virologist told Bangladesh Post, "Is there really a lockdown going on in Bangladesh?" In this way the risk will increase, but not decrease, he added.
Medicine specialist Dr Muhibur Rahman said, “The number of patients infected with the coronavirus is increasing. In this context, when the lockdown needs to be tightened, the lockdown has been relaxed. The capital has returned to its previous state with crowds of people everywhere. For this, bad days are awaiting us ahead. He added, "If you want to live, stay at home and follow the hygiene rules."
Meanwhile, health minister Zahid Maleque last Tuesday said it could be presumed that the infection rate would go up to some extent with the reopening of garment factories, shops and markets.
Meanwhile, many Dhaka dwellers opposed the business reopening move on their Facebook walls and promised that they would not go to shopping malls risking their lives while the authorities of two largest shopping malls in the capital, Bashundhara City Shopping Complex and Jamuna Future Park, decided not to reopen their markets.
