The coronavirus crisis continues to escalate in Bangladesh with the country reporting the highest number of cases as well as deaths on a single day and with the capital appearing to be the epicenter.
Dhaka is the worst hit with more than 40 percent of the total confirmed cases reported from the city.
As cases continue to rise, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police are locking down more and more buildings as well as neighbourhoods every day in line with the advice of the health authorities.
According to a tally by Dhaka Tribune, nearly 300 buildings, over 95 entire neighbourhoods, a slum, a drugstore at the premises of the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, and the intensive care unit of the Dhaka Shishu Hospital have been locked down so far.
Area by area breakdown
The Dhaka metro police runs its operations through 50 police stations across the city in its eight divisions.
Dhaka Tribune reached out to spokespersons at each of the police stations to obtain the number of buildings and neighbourhoods locked down as well as confirmed coronavirus cases.
Wari Division
Some 169 buildings and 43 neighbourhoods have been locked down, according to the figures provided by the six police stations. So far, 30 confirmed cases have been reported.
Wari police station’s Sub-Inspector Harunur Rashid said they had locked down some 150 buildings in five neighbourhoods.
Four houses were locked down in Demra, where one person has recovered after being diagnosed with Covid-19, said Inspector Noor Alam Siddique, adding that the police had withdrawn the lockdown at one of the buildings.
Shyampur police Officer-in-Charge Mofijul Alam said that no area or building had been put under lockdown as no cases had been reported.
“However, we have limited movement at Juktibadir Lane as unconfirmed reports say one of the residents might have been infected,” he added
Police in Jatrabari have locked down 15 houses and about 30 neighbourhoods.
“Fifteen people tested positive in the area. All of them, except for one discharged by doctors, are now being treated at Kurmitola General Hospital,” said Inspector Ayan Mahmdu Dwip.
In Gandaria, one of the nine people who tested positive died on Wednesday, according to Inspector Russell Hossain. Nine buildings in the area had been put under lockdown, he said.
Police in Kadamtoli have locked down four buildings where many people have been diagnosed with Covid-19, said Inspector Mahbub Alam. “We have also partially locked down four streets.”
Motijheel division
Nearly 40 buildings have been put under lockdown in the zone, which has so far recorded 24 confirmed cases.
The capital’s commercial hub of Motijheel, which has almost no residential buildings, has reported zero cases.
“The Agrani bank authorities locked down their office building as one of its staff members had symptoms. It was withdrawn after the test came back negative,” said Officer-in-Charge (OC) Yeasin Arafat Khan of Motijheel police.
Sabujbagh police said they had locked down some 30 buildings in three neighbourhoods. “So far, 12 people have been infected in this area,” said OC Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahbub Alam.
No lockdowns were imposed at Khilgaon as any confirmed case is yet to be found in the zone.
The same goes for Rampura with zero cases reported, according to Inspector Masud Parvez of the local police station.
Police in Paltan have locked down four buildings in the neighbourhoods of Shantinagar, Purana Paltan and Chamelibag.
So far, five people have been infected in the area, according to Inspector Md. Sentu Mia.
A building in Mugda is under lockdown. “One of the residents of the building in Anandadhara neighbourhood is in home quarantine after showing symptoms. The IEDCR said that he will be tested in five to six days,” Officer-in-Charge (OC) Proloy Kumar Shaha.
Police in Shahjahanpur locked down three buildings, said Inspector Jahangir Alam. “Six people have been infected so far, with no deaths reported,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Tejgaon division
As many as 15 individual buildings, five entire neighbourhoods, a slum and an ICU of a hospital has been locked down in the zone, which has reported 35 Covid-19 cases.
Tejgaon police station Inspector Hasnat Khandaker said five buildings had been locked down.
“Five people were found infected in those buildings, three of them from Nakhalpara, one from Tejkunipara, and the remaining from Arojotpara,” he said.
In Tejgaon Industrial Area, an entire neighbourhood has been locked down, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ali Hossain Khan.
“As many as nine people have been infected in three buildings at Purba Nakhalpara and all the other nearby buildings have been locked down. One of the nine has died,” he said.
Ten buildings in Hatirjheel were locked down after a number of cases were reported, said Inspector Mohammad Golam Azam.
“These buildings are in Noyatola’s Chairman Goli, Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital, Dilu Road and Boro Mogbazar.”
In Mohammadpur, nine coronavirus cases have been confirmed, according to Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Latif.
“We locked down a few buildings on Noorjahan Road, Tajmahal Road, Bosila Uttar Mora, Johuri Moholla, and Babar Road,” he said.
Police in Adabor locked down two lanes after many people tested positive, said OC Kazi Shahiduzzaman.
At Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, a slum, a pharmacy on the premises of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, and the ICU at Dhaka Shishu Hospital have been placed on lockdown.
OC Jane Alam Munshi of the local police station said, “A resident of the slum tested positive while a minor at the pharmacy and a doctor at Shishu hospital were diagnosed with Covid-19.”
Uttara division
Only six streets have been locked down in Uttara, where the IEDCR said 17 people had been infected until Wednesday.
No cases have been reported from the Eastern zone, claimed OC Nure Alam Siddique of Uttara East Police Station.
Five roads have been locked down in the western zone, but no confirmed cases were reported, said OC Topon Chandra Shah of Uttara West Police Station.
“Road 11 of Sector 11, Road 13 of Sector 7, Road 3E of Sector 9 and Roads 20 and 20A of Sector 14, have been locked down,” he said.
At Turag several places in Dolipara area have been locked down as one person was found Covid-19 positive, said OC Nurul Muttakin of the local police.
Meanwhile, the police stations in Airport, Uttarkhan, and Dakshinkan say the areas have only limited people’s movement, with social distancing rules being enforced.
Ramna division
As many as 14 buildings have been placed on lockdown while 22 cases have been reported in the central zone of the Dhaka metro police.
At Ramna, two buildings at Siddheswari area and Moghbazar Wireless are under lockdown as two patients were found there.
In Dhanmondi, nine cases have been reported, prompting law enforcers to lock down three buildings on Roads 5, 6A and 15, and a hospital, said OC Humayun Kabir of Dhanmondi police station.
Police in Hazaribag have locked down 10 buildings at Shankar, Jighatola, Gonoktuli, Rayer Bazaar and Nilambor Shaha Road, said OC Ekram Ali Mia.
Kalabagan reported 11 confirmed cases, prompting a lockdown of four to five buildings at Central Road, Green Road, Green Corner, Bashir Uddin Road, said Inspector AFM Asaduzzaman.
In Shahbagh, some people inside Motaleb Plaza are quarantined in their flats, but no lockdown was imposed.
No lockdown was also imposed in New Market area, which has reported zero cases, so far, said OC SM Kaium of the local police.
Mirpur division
Nearly 30 buildings in 12 neighbourhoods have been locked down with 27 people infected with COVID-19.
According to Mirpur Model Police Station, 24 buildings in 10 areas are locked down with 10 confirmed cases.
In Pallabi, lockdowns were imposed in two neighbourhoods after 10 cases were reported, said OC Nazrul Islam of the local police.
Kafrul police station OC Selem Uz Zaman said three buildings were locked down after four people were found Covid-19 positive.
Police in Shah Ali locked down a building after one case was reported.
Darus Salam Police Station OC Sikdar Mohammad Shameem Hasan said that several buildings were locked down at Tolarbagh after a person’s test came back as positive.
It was the same for Rupnagar — a building locked down after a single case was reported, said Inspector Mokammel Haque.
No lockdown was imposed in Bhashantek as cases were yet to be reported, said the local police.
Lalbagh division
As many as 58 cases have been reported from the zone, prompting the authorities to lock down 26 areas.
Three to four neighbourhoods have been under curbs after 11 cases were confirmed, said Lalbagh police station OC AKM Ashfaq Uddin.
The officer-in-charge of Kotowali police station refused to comment and advised speaking with the IEDCR.
Fourteen people have tested positive in Bangshal, said OC Md Shahin Fakir before adding as many as 12 neighbourhoods have been locked down. 
In Kamrangirchar, one death was reported after two cases were confirmed, said OC Mostofa Anwar before adding that two areas had been locked down.
A total of 19 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Chawkbazar, said the local police, who have already locked down as many as 10 areas, including Moulvibazar.
In Sutrapur, a total of 12 cases were confirmed, three of whom died, said OC Kazi Wazed Ali of the local police.
Gulshan division
As many as 22 buildings and seven flats were placed under lockdown in the zone, which reported 14 cases.
Gulshan police said they had locked down four buildings.
The Cantonment police station reported that 10 buildings had been put under lockdown after one case was confirmed.
Badda police station’s OC Md. Parvez Islam said six people have been affected with as many buildings being locked down while police in Khilket locked down one building at the Nikunjo Residential Area.
Banani police OC Nure Azam Mia said that seven cases had been reported and that they locked down as many flats. The Korail slum has been put under lockdown but no cases were reported.
Police in Vatara locked down a building in Bashundhara Residential Area after one of the residents died of Covid-19.
