Traffic rush stuns city

Dhaka witnessed massive crowds and traffic congestion on Thursday as the mega city was back to business as usual after 18 days of hard lockdown.

With the government lifting restrictions on movement of the public and transport considering Eid-ul-Azha festival, the metropolis has become noisy and full of traffic jams at different intersections.

Since morning, thousands of vehicles like private car, bus, CNG-run autos and truck were seen on Dhaka's streets as lockdown was imposed to contain an alarming surge of novel coronavirus.

The pressure of traffic was too heavy in some areas where people were found spending several hours to reach their respective destinations.

Train and launch services also resumed operations countrywide with half of their seats empty, apparently to facilitate commute ahead of Eid, which will be observed on July 21.

Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said Dhaka got back its usual look soon after the lifting of the restrictions.

On Thursday, Abdul Hanif, a student, moved to leave the capital with his father.

"We came to Dhaka 20 days ago to visit a cardiologist for my father, but lockdown forced us to stay here. Now, we're desperate to go back," he said.

But the decision on the withdrawal of restrictions has frustrated healthcare professionals who fear further spread of the deadly virus here.

Bangladesh Medical Association general secretary Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury says Bangladesh is still in the middle of Covid-19 crisis as 226 more cases expired and another 12,236 people contracted the virus afresh.

"We were expecting further extension of the restriction. But unfortunately, the government lifted it amid the virus surge. Look at the city today, the withdrawal could worsen the situation further."

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