Office-goers’ ordeal continue on 4th day of ‘strict lockdown’
Dhaka dwellers, mainly office-goers, faced difficulties on the road due to lack of transport as some offices including banks, stock exchange and several emergency services reopened yesterday amid the "strict lockdown" after Eid-ul-Azha holiday.
City streets have been witnessing crowds and more vehicles today, compared to the previous three days.
In the morning, some office-goers were seen travelling by rickshaws, motorbikes and private cars. Many were seen walking long distances.
Our correspondent visited Asad Gate, Farmgate, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Banani, Pragati Sarani, Panthapath, Mohammadpur, Shyamoli, Ring Road, Adabor, and Dhanmondi areas and found that the number of pedestrians, rickshaws, private cars and goods-carrying vehicles increased on the roads.
Ahsan Habib, an employee of a private bank who was going to Motijheel from Mohammadpur, said he struggled to get a vehicle as no public transport is available. "Changing rickshaws three times, I reached office after a two-hour commute. It cost me Tk 450. How can we afford it for days?"
Visiting the by-lanes in Mohammadpur and Bhatara areas, our correspondent found some shops and tea stalls open.
Police, Rab, Border Guard Bangladesh and army personnel were seen checking vehicles by setting up check-posts at important points.
But there was lax monitoring at some check-posts. At some checkpoints, there were no law enforcers.
"We are checking randomly. During office hours, there was pressure of public and vehicular movement. If we check every vehicle, long tailbacks will be created on roads," said a traffic sergeant, stationed near Bijoy Sarani.
Those on the street without valid reasons or failing to show documents of vehicles were being fined, he added.
The ongoing lockdown went into effect at 6:00am on Friday, banning operations of trains, domestic flights, river traffic, and personal vehicles. There was no restriction on freight services.
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