Despite the rising Covid cases, a section of people seem unconcerned about the health protocols as they roam outdoors on different pretexts. A number of such people while away the time gossiping at Motijheel Park in the city on Tuesday — FE photo by KAZ Sumon People hardly abide by Covid-19 health rules as the city saw a surge in the movement of vehicles and people on the sixth day of the ongoing countrywide hard lockdown.
Traffic was found heavier and the crowd was larger in various places of the capital on Tuesday when the country registered the highest-ever daily Covid-19 cases.
People were going outside with a variety of excuses when stopped by law enforcers. Long queues of vehicles were seen at checkpoints. Moreover, numerous people were seen on the streets without masks.
To cope with the growing inflow of traffic and people, the law enforcement agencies were struggling to stop people from coming out of their houses unnecessarily.
Only passenger buses and markets remained closed on the day while cars, rickshaws, motorbikes and some CNG-run three-wheelers were plying the city streets.
On the other hand, a large number of people were seen gathering at tea stalls, restaurants and kitchen markets like other normal days, violating the lockdown rules.
The FE correspondent found that many people were not wearing masks and moving in groups unnecessarily in some places which were categorised as high-risk areas by the special advisory committee on coronavirus.
Tuhin, a policeman on duty at Malibagh, said traffic, specially cars and rickshaws, was a bit heavier than that of the past few days probably due to opening of banks, insurance and some offices.
He said most people were on streets with medical prescriptions in hand, various test reports, and giving excuses of parents being alone at home or there being no one to baby sit the child.
"We are arresting or penalising people for breaching lockdown rules. We are trying our best to enforce the hard lockdown properly," he added.
Health rights activist Rashid E Mahbub said the lockdown will bring no expected results if it is not followed by people.
"If we really want to stem the spread of Covid-19, the lockdown implementing agencies need to be stricter because the lockdown is lockdown," he added.
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