Home ›› 25 Jul 2021 ›› Governance
UNB . Dhaka
Roads in the capital fell almost silent on Saturday, as law enforcers dissuaded inessential travel on the second day of the reinforced nationwide lockdown.
Grappling with rising Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh reimposed strict lockdown restrictions from Friday after an eight-day break for Eid-ul-Azha. The stricter lockdown will continue till August 5 midnight.
A reality check by UNB revealed that there were fewer cars and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Friday.
RAB and Army personnel patrolling the streets of Dhaka alongside local police, were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people after setting up check-posts in different areas.
Police arrested 383 people and penalised 441 vehicles in capital Dhaka for violating restrictions on Saturday, the second day of the strict post-Eid nationwide lockdown reinforced to rein in the soaring Covid-19 infections.
The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 95,230 in fines from 137 people for having no valid reason to roam around and not maintain health guidelines.
The Traffic Division collected Tk 10.83 lakh in penalties, from vehicles failing to comply with the curbs in place.
From Gabtoli-Mirpur Road-New Market to Uattara-Airport-Mohakhali, a good number of strategic checkposts have been set by the law enforcement agencies to prevent unwanted movement of people.
“Though some of the long-distance buses and vehicles were allowed to enter Dhaka through Uttara and Abdullahpur on Friday, we strictly followed a ‘no tolerance’ policy on Saturday,” said traffic police officer Akhtar Hossain.
As a result, many people returning to the metropolis after the Eid holidays were seen trying to enter the city on foot via various points, including Abdullahpur, Uttara, Tongi, Amin Bazar bridge and Babu Bazar bridge.
However, as per the government instructions, only ambulances and those in emergency services were allowed to enter the capital.
The few private cars, microbuses and other commercial vehicles that were caught plying on the roads without any valid reason in defiance of lockdown norms were fined or compounded by police.
A police officer in the Amin Bazar area said, “Some people have been trying to enter the city showing medical documents but most of those were found to be old and invalid.”
On Thursday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB that this lockdown would be stricter than the one imposed last time. “Police, the paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guard and troops will keep a strict vigil on the roads.”
Earlier, the government eased the lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days due to Eid-ul-Azha that was celebrated on Wednesday.
