On the fourth day since the post-Eid resumption of lockdown, the capital witnessed another day of mass arrests of citizens by law enforcers on Monday. Meanwhile the overall scenario in the city got busier for the second consecutive day, as more residents returned to resume their normal lives, having gone away to spend the Eid ul Azha holiday with their families in most cases.
As for the pandemic, the country again witnessed a new peak in deaths due to COVID-19 – 247- as well as in the number of new cases, that broke through the 15,000 mark for the first time.
The number of people arrested in Dhaka today fell only slightly, some would say negligibly, from yesterday’s 587.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 566 people and traffic police collected Tk 10,21,000 as fines from 443 vehicles for violating lockdown rules on Monday.
Meanwhile, 164 people across the city were fined Tk 1,26,200 by mobile courts for not following the restrictions and health guidelines.
To prevent unwanted movement of people in the city, RAB and Army personnel patrolling the city were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people setting up strategic check-posts in different areas.
These check-posts could be seen as one travelled from Gabtoli down the Mirpur Road and on towards New Market. Or if one were to enter via Ashulia, from Uttara to the Airport and then on towards Mohakhali.
Traffic Inspector of Demra zone, Zia Uddin said, “Increased number of vehicles carrying expatriates and ambulances entered the capital through Demra bridge point today. Having seen patients, we permitted a good number of vehicles to enter the city.”
Many people on foot showed different excuses at the check-post but most of them were sent back by law enforcers and some were fined for not following health guidelines.
The number of rickshaws was notably less than the last three days of lockdown. Some of the rickshaw pullers said many have left the city as they couldn’t make sufficient income and it had become hard for them to survive in the capital during the strict lockdown.
As per the government instructions, only ambulances and those in emergency services were allowed for purposeful movement in the capital.
Earlier last week, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB that this lockdown would be stricter than the one imposed last time. “Police, the paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guard and the Army will keep a strict vigil on the roads.”
The second round of strict lockdown started on 8 am of July 23 that would continue till Aug. 5, with every possibility that it gets extended gain.
Source: United News of Bangladesh