Health guidelines violated as Eid shopping gains momentum in Tangail

Eid shopping has gained momentum in Tangail but heath guidelines are not being followed at the markets and shopping malls.

No disinfectant tunnel was seen in front of the large markets and shopping malls in the district town. Huge crowd of shoppers was seen at the shops but no system of maintaining health directives could be seen.

During a visit at Samabai Super Market, Rajdhani Market, Hira Super Market, Mahmudul Hasan College Market, New Modern Super Market, Saudia Super Market, Capsule Market recently, it was seen that health guidelines were not being followed by both the buyers and sellers at most of the shops. 

The roadside shops including cloth, cosmetics and shoes were seen to be the most crowded. The buyers, mostly women and children, were seen buying goods tumbling upon each other without maintaining physical distancing.

Asked about the matter, Lal Miah, owner of a cosmetics shop in the town, said although they requested the buyers for maintaining social distance but they are heedless.

Krishna Chandra Basak, owner of a cloth shop in the town, said buyers from the upazilas and rural areas are more prone to disregard the health guidelines.

The buyers from the town come to the market for shopping after having their Iftar and they maintain the health directives, Basak also said.

Makhan Miah, who came to the market for buying dresses for his family members, said most of the markets and shopping malls have no arrangements for washing hands.

Hand sanitizer was also not available for the customers at most of the shops, he said.       

Several buyers at the Eid markets said there is no arrangements by the shop owners for maintaining safe distances.

"If the shopkeepers follow heath directives strictly for preventing the corona virus spread, the buyers coming for shopping will also maintain it," told Saidur Rahman, a buyer and resident in the town.

On the other hand, the conscious citizens in the district expressed their grave concern over the careless attitude of the people ahead of the Eid during the crucial moment of the pandemic.

Contacted, Dr Abul Fazal Mohammad Shahabuddin, civil surgeon in Tangail, said that although spread of coronavirus has decreased slightly in the district, the huge crowd thronging the markets and shopping malls without following heath guidelines is a matter of grave concern.

"We are worried over the increase of the deadly infection at neighboring India. And, the infection can also start spreading quickly in our country at any moment," he said.

Md Aminul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (General) in Tangail, said mobile court drives by the district administrations were going on against violation of heath directives at the markets and shopping malls.