Rush, queues everywhere
People in their thousands left the capital for their village homes yesterday as the government is set to enforce what officials dubbed as a nationwide strict lockdown for a week starting this morning to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In the capital, there were long queues at banks and ATM booths and also a huge rush at kitchen markets and shopping malls on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan and Pahela Baishakh.
Officials say the fresh restrictions will be enforced strictly all over the country amid a worsening Covid situation as the previous restrictions had apparently proved less effective in containing the spread of the virus.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed yesterday urged all to strictly follow the restrictions to check the virus transmission.
"We don't want to see anyone on roads and outside home, except for emergencies, from April 14. Please follow the government rules spontaneously, and we won't be rude with anyone," the IGP told reporters in the capital after inaugurating the "movement pass" app.
One can go outside in case of emergency during the strict restrictions, obtaining a pass through the app introduced by police.
Benazir further said millions left Dhaka amid the pandemic last year, and this time the same thing happened over the last two days.
He urged people outside the capital to ensure that those returning to their village homes remain isolated for seven to nine days.
"The locals should keep in mind that if anyone in their vicinity is infected, that person will transmit the virus to others," the IGP said.
The Cabinet Division on Monday issued a circular with a set of strict restrictions effective from 6:00am on April 14 to April 21 midnight to check the spread of the virus.
Several top government officials hinted that the restrictions might be extended if the Covid infection rate and deaths don't come down during the period.
As per the circular, all public and private offices will stay closed and all modes of transport will remain suspended.
Nobody is allowed to go outdoors unless there is an emergency such as buying medicine and essentials or taking treatment.
Banks have been asked to keep certain branches open from 10:00am to 1:00pm on workdays, while trading at the stock market will continue from 10:00am to 12:30pm, said the authorities concerned yesterday.
At a press conference at the Rail Bhaban, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said the railways will operate special goods trains so that farmers can transport their farm products during the weeklong restrictions.
He further said 25 percent concession will be offered on the freight charges.
MAD RUSH FOR VILLAGE HOME
Thousands were seen leaving the capital for their village homes ahead of the weeklong strict restrictions, posing a fresh risk of Covid-19 transmission.
There was a huge rush of home-bound people at the capital's exit points and ferry terminals yesterday morning.
As public transport was unavailable, many were seen crossing the capital's exit points -- Gabtoli, Jatrabari, Abdullahpur, Babu Bazar and Postogola -- on foot.
With inter-city bus services suspended, many hired cars or microbuses to go to their village homes, while many others chose to travel by motorbikes.
"Since buses are off the road, I have decided to go to my village home on my bike," said Joyjit Dutta who was heading for Cumilla from the capital.
The Dhaka-Chattogram highway saw a huge rushof vehicles, mostly cars, microbuses and goods-laden trucks. Many were seen travelling by pick-ups.
The situation was similar on the Dhaka-Tangail highway, the gateway to the northern districts.
A total of 31,881 vehicles crossed the Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge in 24 hours from 6:00am on Monday to 6:00am on Tuesday. The number was almost double the usual one, said a bridge official.
Several hundred vehicles were seen waiting at Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganj for hours to cross the Padma.
Thousands of home-goers travelling by cars, microbuses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen heading towards Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj.
Besides, people in large numbers were seen leaving the port city of Chattogram ahead of the weeklong restrictions.
CROWDS AT MARKETS
The capital's kitchen markets, including Kawran Bazar, saw a sudden rise in buyers yesterday evening after the new moon was sighted.
Marjina Begum, a buyer at Kawran Bazar, said she came to the market to buy ifter items as prices of those were low there compared to other markets.
Mohammad Gofran, a shop owner at the kitchen market, said the number of buyers went up in the evening and most of them were buying ifter items and sanitizers.
Other markets and shops across the city also saw a big rush of customers. There were traffic congestions on major roads in the evening.
Though most of the shoppers wore facemasks, the guideline on physical distancing was largely ignored.
"I have come to this market to buy a shirt since all shops will remain closed from tomorrow… I really need this," said one of the buyers, Md Sabuj, at Farm View Supermarket in the city's Farm Gate area.
Some shop owners kept their outlets open even after 5:00pm, the deadline for closing the shops. Many of them argued that they had to do so because of a huge rush of buyers.
At Farm View Supermarket and nearby Shezan Point, shutters of a good number of shops were kept half-open till 6:00pm.
Meanwhile, the registrar's office of the Supreme Court issued notifications saying the regular functions of all courts, including the High Court and the SC, will remain suspended for a week from today in line with the government-imposed restrictions.
The courts, however, can carry out judicial proceedings virtually on a limited scale during the period.
[Our Correspondents in Narayanganj, Cumilla, Munshinganj, Tangail, Pabna, Manikganj and Chattogram contributed to this report]
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