SOS calls from East Rajabazar: Residents calling for pizzas and fairness creams

Around 11:30pm on Tuesday, a volunteer guarding East Rajabazar received a phone call from a resident asking for some essentials -- half a kilogram of malta and four packets of oral saline.

Another volunteer was contacted around 12:00pm on June 11, a day after the trial lockdown was enforced, with a few residents, who were holding a rooftop Bar-b-que party, asking for a broiler chicken.

No matter what the requirements, these volunteers are working round the clock to ease life under lockdown for those living in red zoned areas.

Dhaka's East Rajabazar area, with 50,000 residents, was categorised as a "red zone" by the government and put under experimental lockdown from June 10.

The zoning system measures were taken as the country is still struggling with ever-increasing cases of Covid-19. Police, locals and volunteers have been helping the residents, while army personnel have been patrolling the area to monitor security.

Masud Hossain Suman, coordinator of the volunteers, explained that 80 people have volunteered to cater to those living in the area in two shifts while the residents were provided with phone numbers to communicate with the volunteers.

"We are trying our best to stand beside the people. Sometimes, we can tell some of them are pulling pranks on us but we entertain them with a smile on our face," he told The Daily Star.

This correspondent spoke to a number of volunteers with similar experiences, but such incidents were not frequent.

"Most people genuinely call for help and we extend our support. But some people call to have fun and we take it with the same spirit," said volunteer Bayezid Hossain Sujan.

Two days ago, he received a call from an 80-year-old man, who developed a fever and breathing problems but his family members kept him locked in a room. When the volunteers were contacted, they went there and took the man to hospital in an ambulance.

"Not a single family member stepped forward to help. But our people did."

Rabiul Islam Shawon, another volunteer, said that a few days ago, a request for medicines reached the control room.

"When we called them [the resident making the request] back, they asked for the prices of local onions and coarse rice," he said.

Another call at 12:00am asked for emergency medicine supply. "When the volunteers went to Lazz Pharma with the prescription, they found that the medicine was for acne treatment."

Rezaul Islam Raz received a phone call at 11:00am a couple of days ago, with a resident asking for some garlic pizza. Another caller asked for samosas and nuggets.

"We contacted a shopkeeper and delivered the items to the callers," Raz added.

Coordinator Suman said, "We have announced that no one should step out of their homes. If anyone needs even a needle, we will bring it to them."

He added that Tk 5,000 cash is always stored in the control room to provide emergency services.

"Upon receiving a call, we use that money to purchase the necessities first, in order to save time. We later inform the residents how much money was spent in processing their request," he explained.

About the prank calls, Faridur Rahman Khan Iran, ward councillor of the area, said, "People are frustrated under lockdown. Most people are well behaved with just a few exceptions. But we are considering their difficulties and trying our best to support them. We have asked the volunteers to stand by the residents without expressing any disdain."