Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the police will strictly control people’s movement during the lockdown period in the capital’s East Rajabazar neighbourhood, considered a Covid-19 red zone.
During the lockdown, people other than healthcare professionals, will not be allowed to leave their homes.
Seven of the eight entrances and exits of the area will remain closed off. A single path will be kept open for the transport of health workers and necessary commodities, as per the area councillor and police.
To help the civilian administration enforce the lockdown, army patrols will be increased in the area from Tuesday midnight, said the Inter Service Public Relation Directorate.
DNCC Ward 27 Councillor Faridur Rahman Khan Iran said the lockdown will be in effect starting at midnight on Tuesday.
The lockdown will stay effective for 14-21 days, he added.
Around 50,000 people in 8-10 thousand families live in the East Rajabazar area. Among them, 31 people have contracted the coronavirus, the councillor said.
Iran said no one is allowed to leave home except health workers and their own team and police will see to it.
Replying to a query, he said: “We will make a list of poor people and provide them with food.”
“However, people who have the ability to buy food will have to call our food service team. They will deliver food to houses without any service charge,” he added.
An organization has shown interest in delivering food to people's homes, he mentioned.
East Rajabazar cordoned off with bamboo sticks | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneCouncillor Iran said the lockdown will start on a pilot basis. Based on its success, the authorities concerned will come to the area with an overall plan next week.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam on Tuesday told Dhaka Tribune that they were doing this experimentally. "If it succeeds, the prime minister and the cabinet will decide based on this initiative."
In response to a question, he said: "If anyone faces problems in their jobs because of this lockdown, we will talk to their organization if necessary."
"We will face different types of problems while executing this initiative. We will take the next steps after identifying the problems," he added.
The mayor also said: "We urge everyone to help to us make this initiative a success."
The spread of coronavirus could not be prevented despite the government declaring general holidays.
Thus, the government has decided to divide different areas of the country into red, yellow, and green zones, based on the number of reported Covid-19 cases, and will enforce a lockdown accordingly.
Police, donning PPE, patrol East Rajabazar on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
According to the health department, if the number of coronavirus infected people in an area is 30-40 per 100,000 residents, that area will be marked as a red zone.
In line with this, the DNCC decided on Monday to lock down the East Rajabazar area of Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon division) Biplob Bijoy Talukdar said they will essentially take care of four things.
“We will control the movement of people and ensure security,” he stated.
They will also coordinate with city corporations, the health department, IEDCR, and politicians.
Moreover, they will make loudspeaker announcements to raise awareness among people so that they stay home, Biplob said.
