Dhaka wearing deserted look as city dwellers skip gatherings

Dhaka city residents have limited their movement as part of extra-cautionary measures over the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country. 

The number of people using public transportation also reduced drastically on Wednesday. There were also much fewer people using rickshaws and CNG-run autorickshaws in the capital.

"The number of passengers has suddenly dropped. You see, half the seats are empty which is unusual for a local bus," said a bus worker of Bihanga Paribahan at Shahbag at 11 this morning.  

A rickshaw-puller in the National Press Club area expressed frustration over the unusually low number of passengers on city streets.

"Now it is nearly 2:00pm. On other days I would have made at least 25 trips, but today I have made only nine," said Jahurul Islam, a rickshaw-puller in the capital who hails from Rajshahi.   

Except for office workers, people are by and large staying at home, and even avoiding usual gatherings. Major cultural hubs in Dhaka have also experienced a low turnout.     

The Shilpakala Academy, a hub for nurturing culture in the capital, was closed to visitors. Only academy officials were seen working inside. Stage shows and other cultural programmes were postponed on the premises.

Arshad Sheikh, an Ansar member who stands guard at the gate, said that they have been asked to bar entry to outsiders.  

"All programmes at the Shilpakala Academy have been postponed until March 31," said Arshad.

Dhanmondi 32, a historical road in the city, also had fewer visitors amid the fear of spreading the deadly novel coronavirus. Other places like Rabindra Sorobor were literally empty on Wednesday afternoon.   

Earlier, Dhaka University decided to postpone classes and exams until March 31 to curb the spread of Covid-19. As a result, the university's Teacher-Student Centre was not as crowded as usual. The TSC auditorium will be closed until March 31.

A caretaker of the TSC office, Palash Das told the Business Standard that the programmes which were scheduled to be held in the auditorium have also been postponed.  

However, the Bangladesh Association of Banks, an association of the directors of private banks, paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman across the country.

Around 1.2 lakh officials of 37 private banks in Bangladesh stood in silence in front of their respective branches for 10 minutes. The event began at 10am.  

The officials held the programme to mark the 100th birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh.