On a warm Thursday afternoon, many residents of Dhaka came out of their homes and thronged the footpath in front of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban to get fresh air.
Bangladesh reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18. The government announced tough restrictions on movement, halting economic activities, to prevent the spread of the virus.
The move left thousands without jobs but allowed a small number of people to continue working from home. The government recently lifted some of the restrictions to facilitate the resumption of economic activities but issued a series of health guidelines.
However, the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. On Thursday, the health authorities announced the detection of 2,617 new cases and 44 deaths, pushing the local tally to 3,557.
Also read: Dhaka returns to old face amid rising rate of COVID-19 infection
But a large number of people choose to ignore the risks and health guidelines to ‘enjoy’ an afternoon walk with friends and families in front of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban.
Two women with a child sit on the footpath in front of Sangsad Bhaban.
A couple buys toy for their children ignoring health rules.
Teens sit closely beside a tea stall without wearing any face masks or maintaining physical distancing.