Crowd of people, vehicles marks 8th day of lockdown
Traffic jam were seen in front of Bata signal and Science Lab, Bangla Motor and Karwan Bazar areas of the capital
The streets and main roads of the capital on the eighth day of the ongoing countrywide lockdown saw a significant increase in crowds of people and vehicles.
The Business Standard correspondents who visited key city locations on Wednesday saw a rise in not only traffic jam but also an increase in presence of private cars, rickshaw pullers and motorbikes and cyclists.
Traffic jam were seen in front of Bata signal and Science Lab, Bangla Motor and Karwan Bazar areas of the capital.
Police occasionally stopped and checked people for passes but even after their efforts to control public movement, Police were seen failing to check every single person's movement pass.
"We can only check so many passes without creating a congestion of traffic, but we are trying to check as many as we can and take strict actions," said Morshedul Islam, traffic sergeant of the Ramna division.
Abu Bakr, a shopkeeper who recharges money for mobile phones on the side of the road said, "I haven't been on the road for eight days, now I'm forced to open the shop as I have not been able to pay this month's rent yet."
Around 10 am at the Shahbag area, pedestrians were seen walking nonchalantly beside the road, however, even though there is a police checking post next to it, the law enforcement was not seen questioning anyone for at least 30 minutes.
Crowds flock to Covid testing centres amid lockdown
On the eighth day of lockdown, the number of people who came to submit samples for the Covid-19 test was higher than on any other day.
Three long queues formed in front of the Covid collection lab of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) set up at Betar Bhaban in Shahbag at 10 am.
Although there is a given specified time to submit the sample when applying online, people have to wait for 40 minutes to one hour for the submission of samples.
Masum Monwar, a student at Daffodil University, said both his parents died of Covid-19.
"I have no one else in the world to speak for me. Both of them have been taken away by God. Now I live with my older sister. I came to test so that my sister is not harmed."
Migrant workers flock to get tickets amid lockdown
Even today there is a long line of Saudi expatriates at Hotel Sonargaon for tickets. Nobody was seen maintaining any social distancing and hygiene rules.
Hossain Tareq, from Patuakhali, told TBS that his Saudi Airlines flight on 19 April was cancelled due to lockdown. He had been coming here for the last three days for tickets.
"I waited till 12 last night but now I have not got the ticket, my visa validity expires in 12 days," he added.
The government on Tuesday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by another week to 28 April as infections keep surging. The fresh lockdown will be enforced from 22 April with similar restriction after the ongoing phase ends on 21 April.
All government, semi-government, autonomous, and private offices will be closed, while banks and stock markets will be open on a limited basis.
During the lockdown, all modes of public transportation will be shut down as well.
Special and chartered flights, on the other hand, will be available. Industries and factories can operate in accordance with health regulations.
The ban does not apply to any emergency services.