Cops slap curbs on movement

Police yesterday stepped up measures to restrict movement of people and vehicles nationwide during the Eid holidays with an aim to curb further spread of the novel coronavirus.

They set up checkposts at many key points across the country to prevent people from travelling from one district to another without any urgent need during the period.

However, the people and vehicles engaged in emergency services and carrying goods are exempt from this restriction.

The steps were taken hours after Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed gave directives to divisional and district high-ups through video conference from the Police Headquarters (PHQ). The conference continued for two and a half hours from 11:00am.

The police chief said many were leaving the capital for their village homes to celebrate the extended Eid holidays announced by the government, according to a PHQ statement.

"This cannot be allowed to happen in any way." 

The IGP said all the instructions that the prime minister have given to ensure people's welfare must be carried out properly.

He urged all to abide by the government directives and health-safety guidelines.

Benazir also instructed all the police officials concerned to make sure that no one leaves or enters the capital until further directive from the government. 

"Every district and metropolitan city will strictly implement this in the public interest," he added.

Talking to The Daily Star, Habibur Rahman, deputy inspector general of Dhaka Range, said they would bar all, except those involved in emergency services, from moving from one district to another during the Eid holidays.

"We have taken the measures to check further spread of the virus, and the next course of action will be taken in line with government directives," he added.

Contacted, Mir Rezaul Alam, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the DMP has installed checkposts at 10 entry and exit points in the capital so that no one can enter or leave the city unless there is any emergency.

He said they will limit movement of motorbikes, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and human hauliers to prevent people from making any long-distance journey.

"The majority of the Covid-19 patients are in the capital. We have taken the steps so that no one can spread the virus to people in their village homes in other districts during the Eid holidays."

Asked how long the restriction will remain in force, Rezaul said their primarydecision is to maintain the restrictions till the Eid holidays, and that they will make the next move as per government directives.

DMP officials said that if law enforcers find anyone making long-distance travel without any valid reason, legal action will be taken against him.

In a circular on May 14, the Cabinet Division stated that there would be restriction on movement of people from May 17 to May 28, and local administrations along with law enforcers would take measures to prevent people from moving from one district to another or one upazila to another.

Yesterday, a large number of people left the capital for their village homes by trucks, auto-rickshaws, pick-up vans and cars, according to witnesses.

Many vehicles were seen lining up at Aricha and Mawa ferry terminals in the morning.

Around 5,000 people crossed the Aricha terminal till yesterday noon, and most of them travelled by pick-up vans, motorbikes and auto-rickshaws, said officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation.

Asked, Rifat Rahman Shamim, superintendent of police in Manikganj, said they set up checkposts at the Aricha terminal at noon.

"We are not allowing motorbikes, auto-rickshaws, cars or any other vehicles to cross. The only exception is the vehicles engaged in emergency services," he added.

Talking to this newspaper, Khandokar Golam Faruk, DIG of the Chattogram Range, said, "All the 11 superintendents of police in the Chattogram Division have been asked to enhance surveillance and install checkpoints to restrict movement of both people and vehicles." 

"We won't allow anyone to travel from one district to another during the Eid holidays," he added.

Abu Bakar Siddique, additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said they already set up checkposts at five key points in the port city to restrict movement of people and vehicles.

"The restrictions have been put in place today [yesterday] and will remain until further notice," he added.

KH Mahid Uddin, DIG of the Khulna Range, said, "No one will be allowed to travel from one district to another…

"Necessary measures have already been taken in this regard," he added.