Countrywide Lockdown: Weekend sees less vehicular movement

Traffic was thin on the streets in the capital and other districts on the ninth day of the ongoing "strict lockdown" yesterday.

However, people thronged kitchen markets and mosques on the weekend.

Mohammad Shahidullah, who visited the capital's Hatirpool kitchen market, said: "Although my office is closed, I have to work from home online. That's why Friday is suitable for me for grocery shopping."

In the capital's Gendaria, a large number of people offered Juma prayers at Lal Khan Mosque. Many of them were not wearing masks, although the mosque's imam repeatedly requested people over the loudspeaker to wear the face covering.

"It's simply not possible to maintain social distancing inside the mosque," said a local who offered Juma prayers.

In Gazipur, movement of people and vehicles in alleys and highways increased yesterday.

In Rangpur city, presence of people on the streets and alleys was thinner than that of Thursday.

However, many came out of home without valid reasons. Mobile courts fined 103 people Tk 1.20 lakh for violating "strict lockdown" rules.

Mobile courts also fined 78 people Tk 51,500 in Joypurhat and Tk 5,100 in Natore.

In Barishal city, traffic was thinner yesterday than the last few days. However, many motorbikes were seen running on the streets.

People went to kitchen markets and mosques in droves.

In Manikganj, a mobile court fined a man Tk 20,000 for arranging Qulkhwani of his late grandfather.

Bangladesh is currently under a 14-day "strict lockdown", imposed to curb an alarming surge in Covid infections.

The restrictions will be in force until July 14 midnight as both Covid cases and fatalities continue to hit new records.

[Our correspondents in respective districts contributed to this report.]