The government has decided to relax the coronavirus lockdown and allow shops and businesses to open from May 10.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has also given some guidelines to follow for those who go outside during this time.
However, the two Dhaka city corporations are ill equipped to oversee the health regulations or the markets, said top officials of both city corporations.
They said they do not have the manpower to manage everything and are only assisting the DGHS and Health Ministry in their work.
However, all magistrates the city corporations have at their disposal are out working in the field and will continue to do so, once shops start operating from May 10.
Instructions in the government circular regarding the opening of shops say malls can operate from 10am to 4pm everyday, maintaining hygiene and social distancing rules.
All shopping malls must have hand sanitizers at all entry points and disinfectant facilities should be available for vehicles at entry points also.
According to city corporation sources, there are over 500,000 small and large shops and businesses in Dhaka city and they are unable to oversee such a huge number of shops at the same time.
Dhaka North City Corporation acting Mayor, Jamal Mostafa, said: “Our executive magistrates, engineers and staff are working round the clock. But people do not seem to be aware of the situation and are not following health guidelines. If they wish to ignore the guidelines willingly, it is quite impossible for us to make each of them abide by the instructions.”
City dwellers complained that most small shops and grocery stores have already started operating, turning a deaf ear to health guidelines for the Covid-19 outbreak, and cases of infection are increasing everyday in the city.
