10th Day of Strict Lockdown: All-too-familiar Dhaka

With crowds of factory workers thronging the city, Dhaka wore almost a normal look yesterday as public buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles all rolled out on the streets.

This happened even though shopping malls and markets remained closed.

The day began with factory workers pouring in to the city to join work, increasing public movement on the road.

Although public transports were allowed to operate till noon, some buses were seen plying Dhaka streets after 12pm.

This correspondent visited Asad Gate, Farmgate, Panthapath, Mohammadpur, Shyamoli, Ring Road, Adabor, Mirpur, and Dhanmondi areas and witnessed similar scenarios.

A traffic inspector of Mirpur area confirmed that vehicular movement was higher yesterday compared to the previous few days.

"Some buses were plying the street till noon. In some areas, traffic control was needed due to the pressure," he said.

Like other days, the alleyways remained crowded.

Visiting the by-lanes in Mohammadpur, Kalabagan, Green Road, and Farmgate areas, this correspondent found some shops and tea stalls open, while many were seen gossiping by the roadside and moving around without wearing masks.

In some areas, shops were open with their shutters half down.

"Every time a lockdown is imposed, we become the sufferers. I am already drowning in loan from paying my shop and house rent. How long can we go like this?" said Ashraf Uddin, who has a bedding store in Kalabagan area.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association yesterday demanded reopening of markets and shopping malls after August 5 as they have been incurring heavy losses.

Shop owners have lost millions of taka in the 270 days of market closure due to the lockdown, said Md Helal Uddin, president of the association.

Meanwhile, police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, and army personnel were seen checking vehicles by setting up check-posts at important points yesterday.

But this was contrasted by lax monitoring at some check-posts, where no law enforcers could be seen.

The current phase of the lockdown will end on August 5 midnight.