Dhaka waking up from slumber 

Dhaka is waking up from a peaceful slumber. 

The lockdowns that were announced by the government from March 26 as 'general holidays' had put the city to sleep for a long one-month. 

That factories were shut, and all other work and trade remained suspended in the city. The workers, day-labourers and small vendors left the city. 

Dhaka fell asleep. The machines gathered dust, the smoke cleared and blue skies peeped behind the fluffy white clouds. 

After a long time, kites took over the sky. We started getting used to it, but things have started changing again. 

Shops open at a market in Jatrabari area of Dhaka. Many shops have started to open soon after the government announced plans to keep malls and shops open from the 10th of May. Photo: Saikat Bhadra

While experts warned that coronavirus infections may rise further in the country, the government had to take a tough decision - for the sake of saving the livelihood of the millions of workers, day-labourers and small vendors. 

The readymade garments sector was reopened recently to keep the wheel of economy moving. 

File Photo: Mumit M

Ever since, the city has started to wake up from a long deep sleep. The factory workers have resumed their work and the machines have started running at its pace, all over again. 

The boats on Buriganga, which longed to see a passenger for a month, are now busy transporting people from Keraniganj to Bosila. With the local buses yet to resume, people on that route are using the boats more often. Who cares about social distancing now? 

Right next to the ghat is the dockyard. It had gone all silent after the lockdowns began. But now, things are gaining momentum after the workers returned to their workstations. The clatter of metal can be heard from a distance. The wielders in the city are not lagging behind. They have also opened up the shops, busily moulding the metal. 

Construction workers have come back too. They have resumed their work on the big projects including Metro Rail and Expressway. Although not everyone has come to work, with many of people back on their toes, the hustle and bustle of the city seems to have come back. 

Two men are working at a construction site of the Elevated Expressway at Abdullahpur in the capital. The work resumed amid the relaxed shutdowns, but the workers have little or no protection from the coronavirus. Photo: Mumit M

These people do not have much protection from the novel coronavirus. Many do not even have facemasks and are working in very dangerous conditions. They are the ones most exposed to the virus. 

Mohammad Iddris welding a motor span at his shop at Sattar Khan Dockyard in South Keraniganj of Dhaka. He opened the shop and resumed work amid the relaxed lockdowns. Photo: Mumit M

But, when hunger screams louder than disease, there is little they can do.