The dangerous rush to return home

Thousands of people left the capital for their hometown ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr due next week. 

While most of them have left to be with friends and family during the festival, some have left the city for good amid the pandemic. 

The government imposed shutdowns on March 26 in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. 

The closing down of factories, shops and all economic activities have left thousands of urban poor unemployed, penniless and hungry. 

A huge number of them have packed up their little belongings and set out for their home. 

Some are relocating from the capital after the ongoing shutdowns took away their jobs and salaries. 

In the absence of public transports, these people crammed onto pickups, trucks and motorcycles to reach their destination or at least the exit points of the capital, defying all social distance protocols. Some even set out on foot because they could not find a transport. 

On May 18, the Dhaka-Chattagram highway saw a 25km tailback as thousands of cars left the capital amid the ongoing shutdowns. 

Meanwhile, authorities had to suspend the ferry services for hours after thousands of people gathered at the Shimulia-Kathalbaria and Paturia-Daulatdia routes. As a result, these people remained stranded for hours. 

Experts have warned that such homebound movement can potentially cause the number of infections to multiply manifold. They have urged the authorities to restrict these movements and take necessary steps to avoid overcrowding in Eid prayers. 

Although the government published a circular on May 14 stating that no one would be allowed to leave the city where they work during the Eid holidays, it seems little was done to enforce the order.