Triggering grave concern amid the daily spike of COVID-19 patients in the country, the lockdown imposed by the government seems relaxed in many places while in some places it is not effective at all.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, in the last two-three days, the number of people taking to the streets has increased in the capital Dhaka, and in different districts as well. People are now crossing the alleys of neighborhoods and moving to main roads.
The number of private vehicles has increased, and so has the movement of vehicles like rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, vans, and motorcycles, on roads, highways and in localities. Tea shops have started to open and people of different ages are crowding them.
The lockdown has been broken mainly with the reopening of the readymade garment (RMG) factories, with thousands of workers coming out of the houses. They have returned to the capital or gone to different cities.
Besides, a limited number of government agencies and departments under 54 ministries has opened. As per the order of the Ministry of Public Administration, these offices have been opened in all district-upazila levels of the country including Dhaka since last Sunday. A number of officials and employees from different ministries and departments are found present in the secretariat, the heart of the administration in the capital. Officers and employees are present at their offices.
As a result, people are traveling in the capital. At this time, the social distance directed by the government to prevent the infection is found violated. The level of use of safety equipment is also low.
Although the RMG factory owners' association Bangladesh Garments Manufacturing and Exporters Association (BGMEA) had been permitted to open a limited number of factories, actually almost all the factories have been opened.
In addition, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday also extended the opening hours of shops in Dhaka during Ramadan by two hours and also allowed the sale of Iftar items in hotels and restaurants. However, no one can display or trade any kind of Iftar on the sidewalks. Besides, in a video conference on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that there is no obstacle in the transportation of goods.
Due to these decisions, the movement of people on the roads for the last two-three days seems to have increased. Because of the decision to increase the time for selling Iftar items and opening shops for two more hours in the capital, more people will be seen on the streets from now.
Under these circumstances, experts have expressed concern.
Virology specialist, Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam, also a former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said that the first week of the month of May is very critical for us. Because, now the rate of infection is rising.