Most of the streets and intersections in the cities outside the capital were largely empty on the first day of the seven-day "strict lockdown" yesterday, but the alleys remained crowded with people.

Law enforcers, along with army and BGB, were seen active in the roads and highways making sure people were not stepping out of their homes without any valid reasons.

In many places, people were playing "hide and seek" with law enforcers. Mobile courts filed cases and fined a number of people who came to the road to "see" the lockdown, or failed to give any valid reasons to law enforcers.

In the port city of Chattogram, police arrested 21 people in Agrabad area as they came to the road to see the lockdown. They were freed after two hours with undertakings, said OC Mohammed Mohsin of Double Mooring Police Station.

Meanwhile, mobile courts of Chattogram district filed 37 cases in different spots in the city. Nine executive magistrates conducted the courts and fined people Tk 13,700 in total.

Executive Magistrate Omar Faruk said the mobile courts fined those who stepped out of home without any valid reasons and restaurants that violated lockdown rules.

On the first day of lockdown, most of the city streets were almost empty with little to no presence of rickshaws, motorbikes and private cars.

However, the alleys remained crammed with people. Vendors were seen selling products to people while many crowded grocery stores for daily essentials. 

In Barishal, the district administration, police and Rab were seen on the streets since early morning. Most of the shops except grocery and kitchen markets were closed.

Four mobile courts were active in the city at the initiative of the district administration. They fined 16 people a total of Tk 7,200 for violating rules.

Meanwhile, district administration sources said the army and BGB personnel also patrolled the major areas.

In Khulna, police set up 26 check posts under nine police stations in the district.

Visiting various areas of the city including Royal Mor, Picture Palace mor, Moylapota, Nirala, Gallamari, Sonadanga bus terminal, Daulatpur, Boyra Bazar and Rupsa, it was seen that almost all the areas remained cordoned off.

There was very limited movement of people on city roads.

Khulna District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahbub Hasan said, "We are working to ensure that the notification issued by the cabinet to reduce the rate of Covid-19 infection is maintained properly."

DC Moniruzzaman Talukder told The Daily Star that mobile courts are being run in Khulna metropolitan area and districts under the leadership of 13 executive magistrates to strictly enforce the lockdown.

In the metropolis, 20 people were fined Tk 7,900 by mobile courts from till afternoon.

"One army battalion and two BGB platoons have been deployed in Khulna. Executive magistrates in the metropolis, UNOs in 9 upazilas and AC lands are working with them. They are campaigning for everyone to follow the hygiene rules. Those who do not abide by the rules are being penalised," he added.

Meanwhile, our correspondents from Munshignaj, Narayanganj, Tangail, Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Pabna reported that many people were seen stepping out of home without any reason, despite strict measures being taken by army, police and mobile courts.

Whenever they saw any army or police personnel, they immediately hid themselves in the alleys, they added.