As Bangladesh currently undergoes a seven-day ‘strict’ lockdown amid a surge of infection and deaths from COVID-19 over the last few days, Dhaka wears a deserted look with only a small number of pedestrians and vehicles on the roads.
The city’s busiest intersections —Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2, Mirpur-10 circle, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate — were seen to be almost empty with a handful of rickshaws and private vehicles.
Members of law-enforcement agencies in different intersections were seen active in enforcing the ‘strict’ lockdown that began from April 14.
A police officer on duty at Karwan Bazar intersection said, “People seem to be aware of the risks of COVID-19 as positive cases and fatalities are on the rise. That’s the reason for a low presence of traffic and people on the roads and alleys.”
“We are committed to maintaining the government circular on enforcing the seven days’ strict lockdown. No unauthorised vehicle or city dweller will be allowed on the streets for the safety of their own and of people around them,” the police officer added.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, Bangladesh passed a grim mark of 10,000 deaths with 94 fatalities on Thursday.
The country also saw a record 101 deaths on Friday in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 10,182.
Positive cases of COVID-19 surpassed 711,779 with a new report of 4,417 cases on Friday.
sh/teb/am
