More people violating lockdown rules than last year

As the seven-day lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 is underway, more people are flouting the restrictions compared to the previous year's lockdown.  

Streets in the capital have become more crowded in relation to the previous year's general holiday period. Some are flouting hygiene rules completely by roaming around without face masks.

Also, more cases were filed on Tuesday than the first day against the violators of lockdown rules.

On Tuesday, a large number of vehicles, except for buses, were seen on Dhaka roads since morning.

Police said the lockdown did not have the desired impacts due to the movement of people.

As private and public offices were open, people commuted by CNG-driven autorickshaws, Uber vehicles, and cars. They did not maintain social distancing.

Liton Matin, inspector (patrol) of Banani Police Station, told The Business Standard more people were on roads than last year's lockdown.

"Most of the offices are open and that is why we are seeing more people commuting. However, we are stopping people at several checkpoints to check whether they came out for emergency or not," he added.

Forhad Hossain, sergeant of Dhanmondi traffic zone, said most of the people stopped by police at checkpoints had a valid reason for commuting as some went to office and some were directly involved in emergency services.

"We ask people to go back home if they are not involved in any emergency services," he added.

Traffic officials also said unnecessary movement of people is rampant this year.

Mohakhali traffic zone Sergeant Mohidul Islam said most of the government and private offices are open despite the lockdown and that is why employees have to commute.

"It seems everything else is operational, except for public transports. So, we are only monitoring whether the public are maintaining social distancing or not," he said.

Mohidul also noted that four cases had been filed since Tuesday morning for not following the lockdown restrictions. "We are suing if three to four people travel by a car or a CNG-driven autorickshaw without maintaining hygiene rules."

Seeking anonymity, a traffic constable of Hatirjheel traffic zone said they had not been instructed by the higher authorities to enforce the lockdown measures as strictly as last year.

"We are seeing more people on streets because workplaces are open unlike the previous year. We are only monitoring whether social distancing is being maintained," he told The Business Standard.

Ramna traffic zone Sergeant Morshedul Islam said they had been instructed to ensure social distancing.

"When we see four or more people in a vehicle passing this area, we stop them. But we had to let them go as they were either heading to Ekushey Book Fair or Dhaka Medical College," he said.

He also noted that those who had been fined for coming out without face masks were more willing to pay the insignificant amount instead of wearing masks.

Jasim Uddin Molla, deputy commissioner of Mirpur traffic division, told The Business Standard they are taking action against lockdown violators as per law.

The government enforced a seven-day lockdown from Monday morning in the face of a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.

Markets and shopping malls were asked to remain closed and public transports were shut down.