Bangladesh passed the first day of its weeklong lockdown on Monday. 

A record rise in the number of cases in recent days prompted the government to go for the tough measure, the second time since Covid-19 cases were first reported in March last year.

On Sunday, when the lockdown announcement came, health authorities recorded 7,087 new cases. A day later, the number was 7,075.

Only essential service providers are allowed to operate during the lockdown. But shop owners in Dhaka and Chattogram came out on the streets and demanded that the operation of businesses during the lockdown be allowed.

They incurred huge losses during last year’s Eid festivals when the country was under lockdown to tackle the transmission of the virus. Traders see their highest sales during the Eid season.

With Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festivals of Muslims, scheduled to be celebrated in mid-May, an extension of the lockdown will be devastating for them, the traders said.

Meanwhile, the people seemed reluctant about following the government's orders. For many small shops and businesses, it was business as usual. In many areas, police forced the shops to close but they reopened as soon as the policemen went away.

People seemed reluctant about abiding by health guidelines. Although the number of people wearing masks has apparently increased, they are still ignoring the physical distancing rules and crowding tea stalls and roadside shops for evening chats.

The following photos were taken from Dhaka and Chattogram.

A man holds an anti-lockdown poster during a protest in Dhaka's New Market area on Monday, April 5, 2021, demanding that shops and markets be kept open during the weeklong lockdown. Photo: UNB

Hundreds of shop owners and staff demonstrated in New Market area on Monday, April 5, 2021, demanding the government allow them to operate for several hours every day  during the lockdown. Photo: UNB

Traders in Chattogram protested against the lockdown on Monday, April 5, 2021. They demanded that shops be allowed to keep open ahead of Ramadan. Photo: UNB

No one is abiding by health rules at the TCB sales points in Dhaka on Monday, April 5, 2021. Photo UNB

Health rules seem to be the last thing on the people's minds at TCB's sales points in Dhaka. This photo was taken on Monday, April 5, 2021. Photo: UNB

At this market for masks in Babubazar in Dhaka, no one is maintaining the recommended physical distancing rule. This photo was taken on Monday, April 5, 2021. Photo: UNB