People are reluctant to wear masks and obey hygiene rules, while city buses have also been seen operating at full capacity despite the imposition of 11 restrictions.
While the government again imposed restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 new form Omicron, people were seen doing their daily activities as usual.
Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and other enforcement agencies have been on the ground since morning to enforce the ban.
DMP Executive Magistrate Dr. Sanjeev Das said, “We are in the field to enforce the government ban. Since morning we have found many
people not obeying restrictions properly. Many of them have been fined while many have been warned verbally. There is no end to people’s excuses, but we are following our rules.”
On the other hand, since morning city buses have also been found operating at their full capacities. Passengers have been picked up in buses where hygiene is not possible. At the same time, it has also been known from a good number of vehicle drivers and staff that they are yet to be vaccinated.
The capital’s Rampura, Shanti Nagar, Paltan, Moghbazar and other places also showed similar scenarios.
Different bus staff replied that since morning they remain busy on the road, but their respective companies are now forcing them to get vaccinated.
A driver of Al-Mecca Transport, Liton told this journalist, “We have already been informed that we will not be allowed to drive buses if we do not take the vaccine. Now we are also willing to get vaccinated. It will be helpful if a separate arrangement is made for us.”
Public health experts say it is a timely decision to prevent the spread of corona. However, if the daisaras do not work in a coordinated manner as in the past, the challenge of mobilization will increase.
Prominent medical scientist Professor Dr. Liaquat Ali said, “It is being said that all kinds of social and political meetings and gatherings will be closed in the open space. But at the same time, public relations are going on in the international trade fairs, union council and City Corporation elections, ignoring the rules of health.”
However, the 11 restrictions imposed by the government on the new type of coronavirus Omicron issue have come into effect from Thursday.
The circular calls for the operation of mobile courts to prevent deviations in the observance of hygiene rules as well as legal measures if masks are not worn in markets and office-courts. For meals at restaurants and stays at residential hotels one must show a vaccination certificate. The imams will warn the people concerned about the observance of hygiene rules and wearing of masks in the sermon of Friday prayers in the mosque.
Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi officials have been asked to confirm the matter.
Analyzing the infection situation, it is seen that Covid-19 was under control till January 1. The rate of infection has been steadily rising since then. It is not growing in any particular stream, which is a matter of great panic. Coronavirus tests have increased by 10 percent in the last one week. In other words, more than 150000 samples were tested at this time. More than 6,000 patients (more than 169 percent) have been identified since the previous week.
A meeting with transport owners and labor leaders was held at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) head office in Banani on Wednesday to implement the directives of the cabinet department.
At the end of the meeting, BRTA chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder informed the journalists about the decision to transport half of the passengers in public transport from next Saturday.
However, the employer-labor leaders told the meeting that if all the offices and courts were left open and half the passengers were carried, there could be a transport crisis.
