The government has made a complete mess of the reopening of export-oriented factories amid “strict lockdown” enforced to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

As export-oriented factories reopened yesterday with less than a 48-hour notice, workers had to traversed miles on foot to reach Dhaka for a second consecutive day.

With crowds of factory workers thronging the city, Dhaka wore almost a normal look yesterday as public buses, private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles all rolled out on the streets.

It seems the government can’t stick to its decisions when it comes to tackling the pandemic.

Different organisations yesterday protested the government decision to reopen factories from today. They said it was a very imprudent decision to open the factories without ensuring public transport for workers and their health security.

There has been no decision yet on extension of the ongoing lockdown that is set to end on August 5, said State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain. 

Garment workers today blocked Rangpur-Dhaka highway for four hours after they failed to get transport on their way to Dhaka, following the sudden decision to reopen export-oriented factories from tomorrow.

As the government has decided to allow all export-oriented factories to open from tomorrow, thousands of garment workers are returning to workplaces in Gazipur amid a nationwide lockdown, raising fears of Covid-19 transmission.

Compared to other days, roads of the capital were relatively quiet yesterday, the eighth day of the countrywide “strict lockdown”, as it was a weekend.

Amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections and deaths, the nationwide “strict lockdown” seems to be loosening up as public and vehicular movement on the streets of Dhaka and elsewhere continues to increase with each passing day.

With rising public and vehicular movement, everything except public transport is plying the capital’s roads, as the nationwide “strict lockdown” rolled into its sixth day yesterday.  

A few weeks ago, the photo of 65-year-old Asiya Begum -- a house-help who was walking for two hours, wading through ankle-deep water, to reach her home at Hemayetpur from her employer’s house at the capital’s Lalmatia -- went viral on social media. 

The government has turned down the plea from businesspeople, including garment manufacturers, for letting them resume operation of factories, fearing a further surge in Covid deaths and infections.

With each passing day, the countrywide 14-day “strict lockdown” seems to be easing up.

Local Awami League leaders arranged a programme in Natore this morning, amid the ongoing lockdown, to celebrate the birthday of Sajeeb Wazed, Prime Minister's ICT Adviser.

The government will take stern action if ineligible factories are kept open during the ongoing two-week-long strict lockdown that began on July 23, said Farhad Hossain, state minister for public administration.

The nationwide 14-day “strictest lockdown” seemed to have loosened up on the fourth day, as public and vehicular movement increased on the roads in Dhaka and elsewhere yesterday. 

Dhaka dwellers, mainly office-goers, faced difficulties on the road due to lack of transport as some offices including banks, stock exchange and several emergency services reopened yesterday amid the “strict lockdown” after Eid-ul-Azha holiday.

Public and vehicular movement increased on the streets of Dhaka and elsewhere yesterday on the first weekday after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays and the third day of the countrywide lockdown.

Public and vehicular movement has increased on Dhaka streets today -- first weekday after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays.