lockdown
Silence descends on Dhaka
Roads in the capital fell almost silent on Saturday, as law enforcers dissuaded inessential travel on the second day of the reinforced nationwide lockdown.
Grappling with rising Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh reimposed strict lockdown restrictions from Friday after an eight-day break for Eid-ul-Azha. The stricter lockdown will continue till August 5 midnight.
A reality check by UNB revealed that there were fewer private cars and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Friday.
Also read: 403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest
Banks to open from Sunday for limited hours
After a four-day break on account of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festival and weekly holidays, banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh will open from Sunday.
However, all banks will remain open for customers for only three-and-a-half hours daily due to the country-wide 14-day strict lockdown that was reimposed on Friday to contain the spread of rising Covid cases.
As per a circular issued by Bangladesh Bank, all banks will operate on a limited scale between July 25 and August 5 -- from 10am to 1.30pm only, instead of the normal 10am-4pm timings, maintaining all Covid-safety protocols and with limited staff.
READ: BB sets new transaction timing for banks from July 15
However, banks can remain open till 3pm to conduct their own activities, post-customer hours. Their other regular activities can also continue in compliance with government guidelines.
During this period, the head offices and authorised dealers-designated branches of banks will remain open while state-owned banks will keep open one branch at the district level and one at the upazila level.
Private banks, on the other hand, will keep open one branch at the district level and a maximum of two branches outside districts with limited manpower, according to the central bank.
READ: Banks to remain closed on Sunday during lockdown
However, internet banking service will continue for 24 hours. All banks will have to ensure the operations of ATM kiosks to facilitate transactions through cards and by supplying adequate cash in the machines, as per the BB circular.
403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest
On the very first day back of the strict Covid-19 lockdown, 403 people were put under arrest by police, and 441 vehicles were fined by LEAs, for violating various protocols put in place as part of the lockdown restrictions.
The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 127,270 in fines from 203 people.
The Traffic Division collected Tk 10.6 lakh in penalties, from vehicles failing to comply with the extraordinary restrictions in place.
Dhaka fell quiet in one fell swoop Friday, after restrictions imposed as part of the nationwide lockdown that started July 1 - the 'all-out' or 'maximum' lockdown - kicked in again. The features that differentiate the July 2021 lockdown in Bangladesh from any previous lockdown or restrictive protocol during the pandemic can broadly be identified in three streams:
i) Law-enforcement agencies were given the authority to perform mass arrests of the public if need be, of citizens found in breach of lockdown rules. Agencies have in turn shown their willingness to use it. Even on resumption day, over 400 such arrests were reported.
ii) Larger deployments of the security and law enforcement agencies, including Army and BGB battalions.
iii) Mobile courts jointly operated between agencies and local administrations working far more proactively to nab and even track/hunt down offenders, coupled with more aggressive use of their fining authority.
Read: Lockdown Breaches: 462 arrested on day 14
The lockdown restrictions came into force at 8am today and will continue till August 5 midnight, unless extended again as announced by the government on Thursday, upping its guard against the devastating Delta variant of Covid-19.
Today (Friday), the first day of the resumed lockdown, the number of vehicles seen in the capital was much lower than any other day during the last week.
Even then, many were seen in the morning returning to Dhaka through different ways as public transports were taken off the roads following the fresh order.
The government’s order for everyone was to stay in their respective areas as offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries will remain closed during the period.
Rab and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen checking the movement of people and vehicles at different points of the capital in addition to the duties performed by the police.
Until 10am, some public transports, carrying passengers, were allowed to enter the capital.
Akhtar Hossain, a traffic police officer, said some of the long-haul buses and vehicles were allowed to enter the capital through Uttara and Abdullahpur as they were stuck on the roads before entering the capital. “After 10 am, no vehicle was allowed in without valid ground,” he said.
In response to a query, Akhter said, “The government order is to maintain the lockdown strictly and we’re doing that today. Only the vehicles used for emergency services are allowed to move.”
Meanwhile, those returning to Dhaka from southern districts were seen entering Dhaka on foot through different entry points of the city like Tongi Bridge, Aminbazar Bridge, Babubazar Bridge and Postogola Bridge.
Read: Lockdown Breaches: 708 arrested, Tk 5.5 lakh fined on day 11
Most of them were bus passengers who had to get off from the vehicles before entering the city due to the suspension of traffic movement.
Members of law enforcement agencies were seen making them wear masks and maintain health rules as per the order.
On Thursday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB that this lockdown will be stricter than the one imposed last time. Police, paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guard and the Army will keep a strict vigil on the roads, he said.
Earlier, the government eased the lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days due to Eid-ul-Azha that was celebrated on Wednesday.
Lockdown returns; most streets in Dhaka fall silent
Streets in capital Dhaka now look much quieter than normal after the government reenforced the nationwide lockdown following an eight-day break to protect people from the coronavirus transmission.
The lockdown restrictions came into force at 8am today and will continue till August 5 midnight, unless extended again as announced by the government on Thursday, upping its guard against the devastating Delta variant of Covid-19.
Today (Friday), the first day of the restarted lockdown, the number of vehicles seen in the capital was much lower than any other day during the last week.
Also read: Strict lockdown from Friday, againEven then, many were seen in the morning returning to Dhaka through different ways as public transports were not operating following the fresh order.
The government’s order for everyone was to stay in their respective areas as offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries will remain closed during the period.Rab and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen checking the movement of people and vehicles at different points of the capital in addition to the duties performed by the police.
Vietnam puts southern region in lockdown as surge grows
Vietnam put its entire southern region in a two-week lockdown starting midnight Sunday, as confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded 3,000 for the third day in a row.
The lockdown order includes the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City metropolis, the country’s financial and economic hub with over 35 million people — nearly a third of Vietnam’s population.
Read:Covid-19: Government orders 66 crore vaccine doses worth RS 14,505 crore
Officials say they have to act as the number of infections reached nearly 50,000 since the outbreak reemerged at the end of April after several months of no cases being recorded. Most of the 225 COVID-19 dead — 190 of them — have occurred since April.
Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the surge, had already announced a full lockdown a week ago, after dozens of cases were reported in late May. The city now accounts for most of the cases in the country with over 2,000 daily.
“The situation is getting serious with a high rate of transmission, especially with the dangerous delta variant. We have to put the health and safety of the people as top priority,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was quoted as saying in announcing the restrictions.
Read:Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia
The government order bans all gatherings of more than two people in public places except for government offices, hospitals and a handful of essential businesses. People are requested to only leave home to buy necessities such as food, medicine, or for vital matters.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the country’s committee for COVID-19 pandemic prevention, said the lockdown order must be applied strictly since the latest wave has spread to 57 of the country’s 63 municipalities and provinces while the vaccine supply is still limited.
“We have to keep the transmission rate at the lowest possible to ensure the health system functions effectively and is not being overloaded,” Dam said.
Read:Malaysia shuts vaccination center after 204 staff infected
According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has received only about 6 million of the 124 million doses of vaccine it had secured through the U.N.-backed COVAX facility and in direct orders with vaccine manufactures.
Over 4 million people have received at least one dose. Vietnam aims to inoculate at least 70% of the population by the end of the year.
Lockdown lifting may make country a deathtrap: BNP
Opposing the lifting of lockdown ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, BNP on Friday feared that it will help spread the Covid transmission across the country, turning the country into a deathtrap.
"The government has lifted the lockdown in an unplanned way on the occasion of Eid allowing people to go home. People will go home and again come back to Dhaka from villages and thus the virus will spread all over the country,” said party standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, on behalf of BNP’s corona infection monitoring committee, he also said the Delta variant is very dangerous as it is 70 percent more contagious than other variants.
READ: BNP demands law to ensure proper compensation for factory accidents
“So we’re worried that the measures the government has taken only to help spread corona across the country and it may turn into a death valley in the end,” the BNP leader observed.
He alleged that corona-infected people in rural areas are not getting treatment, medicine and oxygen in district hospitals for lack of beds. “The health system across the country is now in a complete mess.”
Under the circumstances, the BNP leader said their party standing committee has decided to open corona help centres in the party’s offices in every district with the help of Ziaur Rahman Foundation and Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB).
He said they have so far opened corona help centre in 53 districts. “As the largest political party in the country, we will stand by people at this bad time.”
He said their party’s help centre will give people an ambulance service and reach oxygen cylinders to their homes alongside providing people treatment and medicines through different apps.
Tuku said their party proposed the government to make the lockdown a success by giving the poor, the marginalised and unemployed people giving Tk 15,000 as cash support for three months.
“But the government did not do that. They announced incentives, but we don't know to whom they are giving the money. If you go to slums and ask them whether they’ve received the money, you'll get the right answer,” the BNP leader said.
READ: Quader urges BNP to stop spreading lies about Covid vaccine
Tuku alleged that police shut their party’s help centre in Barguna district on Thursday, saying BNP's help service is not needed. "We would like to urge the government you please allow us to stand by people and help them.”
Capital chokes as public transport services resume
Public transport services resumed in Bangladesh on Thursday, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha.
A reality check by UNB in Dhaka revealed that several buses left their depots in the morning and were plying on several busy stretches of the national capital -- Mirpur Road, Uttara, Banani, New Market and Mohakhali areas to name a few.
Buses -- both intra-city and inter-district -- were, however, seen carrying passengers with 50 percent of their seating capacity. But such was the morning rush that several areas of the city witnessed traffic snarls, giving commuters a harrowing time on the roads.
Read:Public transports go off streets, malls shut as ’ strict lockdown’ begins in Bangladesh
Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “Due to the strict lockdown, many people couldn't step out of their houses. As soon as the lockdown restrictions were eased, people took full advantage of the same."
"However, police and other law enforcement agencies are keeping a strict vigil on the roads to ensure strict adherence to all Covid-safety protocols," he added.
A number of inter-district buses entering and exiting the city also contributed to the traffic jams.
Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain said, “A huge pressure of vehicles has been seen since morning as all vehicles have started plying on the roads.”
Besides, train and launch services also resumed operations across the country, keeping 50 percent of the seats empty, apparently to facilitate the movement of people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On July 12, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon said that the train tickets will be available online only to avoid any rush at the counters.
On June 22, authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts.
However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification.
Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid
On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the Cabinet Division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Launch services resume in Keraniganj
Launch services resumed here on Thursday morning, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury visited Sadarghat Launch Terminal and asked the authorities to ensure that all passengers comply with Covid-safety protocols.
Read:Now mad rush to return to Dhaka; river terminals overcrowded again
“Everyone should follow health safety guidelines and those found without a mask will be fined,” he had said.
Khalid had also urged the launch owners and officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to remain alert in view of the worsening Covid situation in the country.
On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
Read: 5 die in stampede, heatstroke at Banglabazar ferry terminal
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown.
All modes of public transport, including the road, river, rail and air, remained suspended during the lockdown.
On June 22, the authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts.
Read: Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreading ‘lockdown’
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts.
However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification.
16-yr-old offered lift in Gaibandha, raped by two
A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two men in the district's Sadar upazila on Monday night on the pretext of offering her a lift.
In her complaint, the girl claimed that she had a tiff with her mother over a small issue on July 12. Later in the evening, she left her house and went to Balua Bazar to take a bus to Dhaka.
As she was waiting near a bus ticket counter around 7pm, its in-charge and his assistant wanted to know from the girl why she was out on the streets during lockdown.
Read:Woman grazing livestock raped & killed in Rajshahi
When the girl told them that she wanted to go to the national capital, the duo immediately offered to arrange a microbus for her trip. The unsuspecting girl agreed to go with them and got into the vehicle without any hesitation, police said.
However, the duo allegedly took her to an abandoned house in the upazila on the pretext of wrapping up some unfinished work before heading to Dhaka and took turns to rape her.
The girl was later rescued by local residents, according to the police.
A case of rape has been filed at Sadar Police Station against the accused, Kasai Lal Mia and Bakul Prodhan, on the basis of the girl's complaint, said Mahfuzar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
"Efforts are on to nab the two accused," he added.
Read: Robbers toss baby out of the house, rape woman in Bhola
Bangladesh's rape epidemic
Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year.
A police headquarters report, released recently, said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below.
Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.
However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape.
Read: 21-yr-old visiting maternal home raped in Sylhet
In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.
In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.
But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.
Global Covid cases approach 188 million
Believe it or not, the global Covid-19 caseload is fast nearing the grim milestone of 188 million.
The total caseload and fatalities stand at 187,739,616 and 4,047,966, respectively, as of Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 3,494,474,264 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The Covid-19 curve in the US is rising again after months of decline, with the number of new cases daily doubling over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, lagging vaccination rates and Fourth of July gatherings, reports AP.
Read:US COVID-19 cases rising again, doubling over three weeks
Confirmed infections climbed to an average of about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, according to Johns Hopkins data. And all but two states — Maine and South Dakota — reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks.
The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 33,914,039 cases. Besides, 607,763 people have lost their lives in the US to date.
Brazil registered 1,605 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 535,838, the health ministry said Tuesday.
As many as 45,022 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,151,993, the ministry said.
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, after the United States and India.
The third worst-hit country, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 30,907,282 on Tuesday as 32,906 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, according to the federal health ministry's latest health data.
Besides, 2,020 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the fatality toll to 410,784, a steep rise from Monday's figure of 724.
Situation in Bangladesh
Struggling with the second wave of the pandemic, Bangladesh on Tuesday morning recorded 12,198 new Covid cases and 203 deaths in 24 hours.
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 16,842 and the caseload to 10,47,155, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Covid claims 203 more lives in Bangladesh, another 12,198 infected
The fresh cases were detected after testing 41,755 samples during the period, pushing up the case positivity rate to 29.21%.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
So far, 889,167 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.91%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Of the latest deaths, 61 were reported in Dhaka, 53 in Khulna, 30 in Chattogram and 27 in Rajshahi. Besides, 15 people died in Rangpur, seven in Mymensingh and five each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, making those the most fatal months of this year. Also, July was the most fatal month in 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Lockdown eased
The government has decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid ul Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions will be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Read: Wellbeing during COVID-19: How yoga can help you during quarantine
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Bangladesh Railway is going to restore its passenger train services for eight days from July 15-22 across the country, keeping 50% of the seats empty apparently to facilitate the movement of people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Public transport services and business institutions will also be allowed to function.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on July 21 amid the Delta variant of Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the country, shattering records every day.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.