Khulna went into a week-long strict Covid-19 lockdown on Tuesday. But the first day saw a random breach of the public movement restrictions from the get-go.
Shops were seen open in many city areas, with some streets experiencing a notable rush of traffic.
Battery-run three-wheelers, trucks, and other heavy vehicles were seen entering the district through the checkpoints monitored and supervised by law enforcers and district administration officials.
Most of the public transports were carrying passengers at full capacity.
People were seen gossiping at tea stalls, having food at eateries, and smoking cigarettes outside. Most of them were not wearing any masks.
Many hawkers and street vendors were also out on the streets to sell daily essentials among various other products.
Police had set up bamboo barricades at various important points of Khulna city but were finding it hard to control public movement.
Locals go through a barricade on a road, flouting Covid-19 lockdown protocols, on a road in Khulna city on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | Dhaka Tribune However, no long-haul public transport had left the bordering district since Tuesday morning.
The trawlers operating from Jail Ghat and Rupsha Ghat were seen not so keen on maintaining the Covid-19 health safety guidelines issued by the government.
They were also carrying passengers over the limit set by the local administration – a maximum of 10 people in a single trip.
Azizul Islam Raju, a security guard at a local NGO, said: “At normal times, the trawlers here carry 10 to 12 people in a single trip. But on the first day of the lockdown, they were carrying at least 30 passengers.
“They are not paying any heed to the health safety rules.”
Meanwhile, police were seen on alert at the city’s Dakbangla, Picture Palace intersection, Shibbbari, and Sonadanga points.
All shops at the Dakbangla and Picture Palace areas were kept shut.
The presence of people at the city’s Shibbari intersection was quite high. Many were out on the streets without any valid reason.
Locals roam freely, violating Covid-19 lockdown protocols, on a road in Khulna city on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | Dhaka Tribune
No buses had left from Sonadanga since the lockdown started. But many left for their desired destinations on Monday night.
Executive Magistrate Ariful Islam told Dhaka Tribune that seven people were detained from the city's Satrasta intersection for flouting the lockdown rules and not wearing masks.
“Action will be taken against them later as per the law,” he added.
