It has been three weeks since the government eased coronavirus restrictions by lifting the 65-day-long general holiday with the aim of implementing zonal lockdowns in areas heavily affected by Covid-19.
However, zonal lockdowns are yet to be implemented while the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths continues to climb amidst the relaxed restrictions.
Worryingly, this laxness is set to continue as zonal lockdowns are unlikely to be implemented for at least another week.
Despite government announcements that health guidelines would be strictly enforced, there is no sign of such enforcement in Dhaka – especially at kitchen markets and localities. Many people were found without masks and in breach of social distancing measures.
A curfew restricting unnecessary movement from 8pm to 6am also does not seem like it is being enforced, as people continue to roam freely after dark.
Out of the total 108,775 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, nearly 59% or 64,167 cases were recorded in the past three weeks. In the same period, the country also saw 57.19% or 815 out of the total 1,425 deaths.
Zonal lockdown plans to take more time
The Cabinet Division announced public holidays (lockdowns) for red zones on June 14, but the decision was not put in effect as the red zones are yet to be specified by health services officials.
The mayors of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) also said they cannot implement the lockdown until the specific list of red zones is declared by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
DGHS officials said they are working on segregating specific areas for lockdown with the support of the Access to Information (a2i) program of the government.
The mapping of red zones has been difficult due to inadequate data on Covid-19 patients and the populations of localities and neighbourhoods, they added.
The latest population census was conducted in 2011. In an effort to find more accurate data, agencies concerned have sent a letter to the Election Commission requesting access to the voter list database.
However, access to the voter list database might not help too much as many residents of Dhaka are registered to vote in other areas, sources said.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune on Saturday, officials of DGHS and a2i said they are working on two important issues before imposing strict lockdowns to control the further spread of coronavirus.
First, they will evaluate red zones locked down on an experimental basis, to mitigate any errors in the zone-based lockdown strategy.
Second, they will evaluate the effectiveness of lockdowns by segregating the last three months of coronavirus infection into three segments: March 26-April 30 (slow rate of infection), May 1-May 30 (medium rate) and May 31-June 15 (high rate).
Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, joint secretary and joint project director of A2i, said the lockdown of red zones will start after evaluating the experience from experimental lockdowns.
“It will take some time for evaluation and that is why lockdowns in specific areas may be delayed,” he added.
Currently, the government has been implementing experimental lockdowns in East Rajabazar under DNCC, North and South Birampur under Madhobdi municipality of Narsingdi district, North Kattoli under Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), and an area of Rupganj municipality under Narayanganj district.
According to the government's finalized zone-based lockdown strategy, parts of Dhaka's two city corporations will be declared red zones if more than 60 confirmed cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people are detected in the zones in the preceding 14 days.
At the district level, civil surgeons can declare red zones if more than 10 confirmed cases per 100,000 people are detected for the preceding 14 days.
