Wari resident Shapan Kumar runs a light business in Nawabpur area of the capital.
Despite knowing about the lockdown, he went out of his house for Nawabpur on Saturday morning.
But he could not get out of Wari in any way. In addition, he got himself into arguments with the volunteers who are stationed at entry and exit points of Wari to provide necessary support to the residents of the area.
He said: “I cannot stay at home for 21 days. Who will bear my losses during this time? The government should provide us with passes. I have an expenditure of Tk10,000 per day, if the government gives me the money, I have no problem staying at home.”
Many others like Shapan tried to go out of the area but failed, after the 21-day lockdown to curb Covid-19 infection started from 6:00am on Saturday.
They (the residents of Wari) started gathering at the exit points with different excuses such as some had to go to their offices for work ands and some to their business institutions. However, due to the strict stand of the volunteers and police, no one was able to enter or leave the area.
Aminul Ehsan, a book trader in the Banglabazar area, made a lot of noise to go outside through the Wari Hot Cake service gate.
He later told this correspondent: “They are not letting me out in any way. I have a book shop in Banglabazar; if I cannot go, I will incur huge losses. No shops are open here except the empty super shops.
“There is no need for a lockdown in this area now. They brought the lockdown with money,” Aminul said.
Hannan, a volunteer of the area, said: “The lockdown has been imposed for the good of the residents and for that we are not letting anyone in and out of the area. If a person wants to go out of the area, we are taking their addresses and pictures, they will be able to enter the area again once the 21-day lockdown ends.”
Wari area’s Patrol Inspector of Police Akhter said: “We all are trying our best, but if people do make themselves aware of the situation, then there is nothing else to do.”
“There are 46 Covid-19 patients in this area, the government has marked it as a ‘red zone’ for the people’s own good. All should cooperate with the government in reducing the number of Covid-19 patients and bringing them back to normal state.
“We are trying our best to make the residents understand the situation and keep them at home,” the inspector said.
