What drives people giving a damn to lockdown, Covid?

A sizeable number of people are coming out to attend to their bare necessities ignoring strict lockdown and braving all odds.

Visiting across the capital and talking to scores of outbound people, it came to be evident that Covid fear is secondary to those giving not a damn to the strict measures.

People are more intent on dealing with their absolute necessities, no matter how, than being contracted with coronavirus.

Since necessity knows no law, necessity to mitigate the pangs of hunger, run the family, handling other crying needs or at least to sustain this torrid time forces a segment of population to defy the lockdown logic and adopt some wiles to meet their ends and purposes.

One such individual was Hamidur Rahman who was going to Mawa ferry ghat from Tongi on a hired CNG-run auto rickshaw.

Asked why he came out, he retorted that his uncle died in village home at Madaripur, and he had to go anyway.

Like Hamidur, one Prodip Kumar Roy was spotted to go to his workplace -- PRAN RFL sale centre at Rampura -- on a Pathao bike.

Quizzed about it, he gave the version that the centre is shut but he has to clean it to prevent mosquitoes.

Businessman Mesbah Chowdhury told The Business Post that an import consignment of his firm is due to arrive tomorrow at Chittagong port.

“I have to submit documents to Chittagong Customs House for clearing my goods. Customs office is open, but my office is closed due to lockdown,” a frustrated Mesbah said sitting in his car near Gulshan-1 intersection at 11am.

“I must go to office ignoring the strict lockdown instructions of the government. It is linked not only to my bread and butter, but also involves the livelihood of my 14 office staff.”

Mesbah questioned does the government understand what is all about doing business, running an office and servicing bank loan?

Responding to a question relating to Covid infection, he said, “I do have fear for coronavirus, but I am desperate to keep my business afloat as well,” he said before leaving for his Banani office.

Abdullah Raihan, a motorbike passenger, reasoned out in the same manner. A plumber by profession, Raihan said his company rules that he has to repair site area as part of an emergency service.

Be it Covid or not, there are some whose services are essential for businesses and city people, going out for them is a must, although regulations of the government has not permitted them.

An internet service provider Kaiser Rahman at Badda adds: “We are making sure that internet connection remains uninterrupted during the pandemic. So we are working hard amid the lockdown.”

Likewise, a garment item supplier Samsul Huda held out the reason of his going out.

“I am going to ANSAR VDP headquarters at Malibagh Chowdhuri Para for an urgent piece of business,” said the businessman.

A Janata Bank Deputy General Manager Mofizul Islam echoed the same as Samsul. He said going to bank head office is his routine work.

Al Amin Maij Vandhari was standing in front of Bangladesh Television office area at Rampura with his elder sister.

Asked why he was standing there, the young man said: “I have to go Mohakhali Cancer Hospital as part of regular checkup for my sister. Now we are waiting for a transport.”

There are scores of people going out to meet their urgent needs and braving all odds.

Arifur Rahman, traffic police sergeant, told The Business Post the number of personal vehicles is increasing on the road. Most of them belong to RMG factory owners, officers and other staff.

“A huge number of passengers are coming out under the pretext of medical emergencies. We are checking their documents, and sometimes fining them,” said the official.

Apart from them, those individuals who live from hand to mouth routinely go out to eke out an earning whatever the amount, but those who cannot lay their land on blue-colour jobs, and running out of their savings instead, are hard hit by the ‘strict’ lockdown.

Small businesses, shopkeepers and petty transport workers and the like fall under the rubric of this category and the shutdown is more than a pain in their neck. This group is always on the lookout to make a living, no matter how, throughout this difficult time.

As part of the case study, one such individual was Khairul Alam spotted in the city who introduced himself as a biker working for Pathao -- an app-based ride-sharing service.

Khairul described his ordeal due to his falling income in the wake of lockdown and so he tweaked his system of transportation service.

“I added myself as a Pathao food deliveryman to the app. I also carry passengers alongside food supply,” he said.

“I have no way but to do it since I got to meet my family needs.”

Not only Khairul, many app-based food suppliers are carrying passengers during this hard time as ride-sharing services are on hold.

On Tuesday, a large number of motorcycles, CNG-run auto rickshaws and private cars were noticed to pick up passengers to transport them across the capital.

Stationeries, tailoring shops and workshops are opened stealthily dodging the eyes of lawmen. The shop shutters are kept down while one stands outside to receive customers’ order and another works inside the shops to attend to their clients.

Md Kauser, a stationery shop owner in the capital’s Badda, vented his frustration on this correspondent.

“I do not know how I shall run my daily expenses as nobody knows when the current lockdown will be lifted,” he said.

It seems to be an oxymoron when a considerable segment of people mostly well-off frequently come out to enjoy eating at restaurants while the destitute struggle to survive.

Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank, told The Business Post, those who rely on daily income are coming out for work to save their life.

They did not get enough government enough assistance and do not know either when this lockdown will go, he said, adding that if strict measure is relaxed for a group of people, i.e. garment workers, then general people as a whole will lose faith in the shutdown measures.

Rizwan Rahman, president, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told The Business Post most small and cottage industries did not receive government incentives last year.

The government should declare incentives for low income people while vaccination drive must be easier and faster, added the business leader.