As we saw it: Lockdown in the red zone of East Rajabazar

The first day of experimental lockdown in the city's East Rajabazar area was enforced strictly, with no residents except those in emergency duty allowed to go outside today.

A handful number of businessman, service holders, bank officials and residents attempted to go outside in the morning. Some tried to go over the barriers and locked gates as well.

But they were sent back by police and volunteers at Green Road beside IBA Hostel entrance, the only entrance kept open during the lockdown, police officials said. 

Residents having emergency duties like doctors, nurses and journalists were allowed to go outside. But they have to go through numerous questions beforehand to justify their leaving, witnesses said. 

Law enforcers restricted media personnel's entry inside. 

The government put the area under lockdown on Tuesday midnight as the area, residence to nearly 50,000 people, is marked as a red zone. 

The decision was taken when the country is struggling to put the brakes on ever-increasing coronavirus cases. 

No residents, except those in emergency duty, were allowed to go outside on first day of experimental lockdown in East Rajabazar area of Dhaka on June 10, 2020. Photo: Rashed Shumon

Police vigilance has been increased and volunteers of a local ward councilor were seen working to help the residents, while patrols of army personnel have been increased in the area due to the lockdown. 

Sujanur Islam, sub-inspector of Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said they enforced lockdown strictly to prevent spread of coronavirus. 

Samples from suspected Covid-19 patients were collected in sample collecting booth set up inside. Daily essentials have been supplied to residents as par their requirement, he said, adding that seven out of the eight entrances to the area were closed off using bamboo. 

All kinds of vehicles inside the area were restricted from moving. Shops were closed -- some pharmacies, which are owned by people outside East Rajabazar, were also shut, he said. 

A photojournalist of this paper who covered today's lockdown, staying there for more than three hours, said "No journalists were allowed inside. We took our photos while standing at the entrance." 

"Some people were seen collecting items -- they had ordered online, and came to the entrances to pick up. Food suppliers were not allowed to go inside," he said. 

Shamim, a resident, said the East Rajabazar area -- which is normally very crowded with rickshaws --was very quiet today due to the lockdown. 

Raphael Palma, another resident of East Rajabazar, went outside of his house in the morning but he was intercepted at an entrance leading to Indira Road. 

Some youths standing there told him to use the entrance and exit on Green Road beside IBA Hostel for any emergency. 

He returned home. 

His brother Porimol Palma said his ceiling fan and the light bulb of one of his rooms stopped working as an electrical line broke last night. 

"We cannot hire any electrician to have it repaired amid the shutdown. We are facing problems. Yet, the lockdown should go on to contain the spread of coronavirus," he said. 

Many residents said they have stored food for at least a week, as the beginning of the lockdown was announced through loudspeakers several days beforehand.