Shops, malls reopen amid ‘lockdown’; Dhaka roads see increased traffic

The number of private vehicles, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws saw a significant rise on Dhaka roads today as the government allowed to reopen shops and shopping malls on a limited scale.

Pressure of vehicles on the city streets was reported from areas like Mirpur, Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Uttara and Mohakhali amid the lockdown, which has been extended by another week to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation.

In a circular on Friday, the government allowed shops and shopping malls to remain open from 10:00am to 5:00pm from today, prompting many to return to the capital city.

People were seen entering Dhaka on foot through Babu Bazar, Amin Bazar Bridge and Tongi Bridge areas.

Although the movement of rickshaws on the main roads were relatively lower in the morning than the other days, those were found moving in alleys.

However, no public transports were seen on Dhaka streets.

The owners and workers of shops, markets and shopping malls were seen busy reopening their doors since 9am.

While talking to UNB at Rajlaxmi Complex in Uttara, traffic inspector Akhter Hossain said, "The pressure of vehicles is increasing. But such pressure was not there during the last few days since the enforcement of the strict lockdown on April 14. This is happening following the government's decision to allow shops and shopping malls to reopen."

Another traffic inspector, Asaduzzaman, said, "There has been huge traffic in Mohakhali area since morning and our colleagues (fellow police officers) were asking the public for movement pass at designated check posts."