The presence of public transport and other vehicles on Dhaka streets today (October 28) is relatively thin compared to other days, as tensions escalated surrounding the two big parties’ announced programs, causing immense commuting woes. People who depend on public transport for their daily commute have been hit hard due to few vehicles on the roads. Panic has gripped people over the scheduled rallies of BNP and Awami League in the capital. Most are preferring to stay home unless they have any urgent work. Thousands gather at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan for BNP’s grand rally Though the day is a government holiday, those who work in private organizations are facing severe commuting problems. The number of private cars, rickshaws and other vehicles on the streets are also few. Streets in Shanir Akhra, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Dholaipar, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, and Jatiya Press Club areas have few public transport. Many were seen waiting for buses to reach their respective destinations. Fakhrul intends peaceful grand rally, warns govt against excesses No long route buses left from Gulistan. Contacted, Joint Commissioner (Traffic-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abu Saleh Md Raihan told UNB that the number of vehicles including public buses is low compared to other days. Mariful Hasan, who had to commute to his office in Mouchak from Shewrapara, said, “I boarded a bus from Shewrapara which dropped me at Bijoy Sarani. Getting no public transport at that point, I decided to walk to Farmgate. Later, I managed to board a bus to Mouchak.” Like Mariful, Rahul, who also worked for a private company, said he had to change transport twice to reach his office from Keraniganj. Kaniz Fatema said she took a CNG-run three wheeler from Narayanganj to her office in Dhaka due to the lack of public transport. Passengers suffer due to suspension of bus movement between Dhaka and Mymensingh ahead of BNP rally Police and RAB personnel were seen patrolling the roads while a number of check-posts were set up to ensure security. Thousands of law enforcers – police, RAB and other agencies – have been deployed in the capital city to prevent possible violence during the rallies. AL and the BNP got permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold their rallies at their respective venues. Jamaat, however, did not get any go-ahead from DMP for their program.

Public transports were seemingly off Dhaka roads this morning, ahead of BNP’s last divisional rally in the capital city. No public transport was seen plying the roads since morning; only some CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen. BNP is ready to hold its 10th divisional rally at Golapbagh field in the capital and thousands of leaders and activists of the party have thronged the rally venue. Read More: BNP leaders, activists gathering at Golapbagh field for today’s rally

After passing horrific time stuck in severe traffic jam in the past two days, commuters in Dhaka breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday as many residents left the capital on a 3-day vacation. The number of vehicles was relatively thin in the capital as Thursday was the public holiday to be followed by two weekends. Many Dhaka dwellers left the capital for home or tourist spots and resorts to spend the holidays. But the huge rush of holidaymakers created long tailbacks on different highways. Also read: 20km long tailback on Dhaka-Ctg highway following road crashes UNB Cumilla correspondent reports: Hundreds of vehicles and commuters got stuck in a 12-kilometer long tailback on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Cumilla on Thursday afternoon. On the occasion of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu's birthday and National Children's Day, weekly holiday and Holy Shab-e Barat, people got a three-day holiday from Thursday to Saturday which created huge pressure of vehicles on the highway, said Zahurul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police Station.

Bangladesh has been under a fresh lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons. Are the things really different in Dhaka, the national capital, from the normal life? Not at all! Dhaka witnessed the higher movement of vehicles on the 11th day of the countrywide ‘stringent lockdown’ with the reopening of garment and other export-oriented factories. Read: Factories reopen amid Covid surge as ‘economy falters’ The reopening of banks after a three-day closure, including the two-day weekly holiday, also contributed to a steep rise in movement of people and private vehicles, reports a UNB correspondent. After a reality-check at different parts of the capital, including Uttara, Mohahali, Mirpur, Kalabagan, Biijoy Srani, Badda, Farmgate, Shyamoli, Karwan Bazar and Bangla Motor, the UNB correspondent saw an increase in the number of private cars and CNG-run auto-rickshaws on roads. During office hours, Dhaka almost returned to its usual chaotic look in these places with long tailbacks at times. The correspondents also observed the presence of public transports on Dhaka streets although their operations were supposed to be suspended from Monday. Rahela Begum, a resident of Moghbazar area, said: ”I see, from my balcony, 15 vehicles passing the main road in front of my building every minute on average like the pre-lockdown days. People are also moving freely without masks. Is this lockdown will be effective enough to bring down infections and deaths?” Read: Lockdown: Thousands returning to Dhaka as factories going to reopen Sunday

Police arrested 621 people for being on the streets in capital Dhaka in violation of  a strictly-enforced lockdown on its third day Saturday. The arrestees were picked up while roaming in different parts of the city, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Iftekhairul Islam. He also said that Tk 19,22,350 was collected in penalties from vehicles across the capital under the Road Transport Act. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 100+ daily deaths for one week However, the officer did not provide any information on the total number of vehicles sued. Besides, mobile courts slapped fines on 346 people collecting an amount of Tk 106450. Despite a vigilant position by the law enforcers,  the number of both people and vehicles taking to the streets increased a bit on the third day of lockdown. Also read: Lockdown: Third day sees more people, vehicles on roads, 184 detained Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain (Rajlaxmi Uttara), said “The number of vehicles is higher than the last two days but we are also active and allowing only those who have valid reasons to come out.” The government imposed a seven-day lockdown from July 1 to contain a surge of Covid-19 infections across the country.  It will continue until July 7 midnight.

The streets of capital Dhaka were largely deserted on the third day of a nationwide ‘strict’ lockdown compared to the first two days. Rickshaws, which were seen plying the city streets in the early days of the lockdown, were hardly seen today. Visiting Kakoli and Banani Chairman Bari on New Airport Road, Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2, Progoti Sarani, Merul Badda and Rampura areas, this correspondent saw vary few private cars and other private vehicles out on the streets. Also read: Govt to expats: Don’t come during lockdown, except for emergencies Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaan of Mohakhali area said the number of private vehicles as well as rickshaws is very thin on the weekend. All shops and business establishments on the main streets were seen closed on Friday. At the checkposts, the law enforcers did not stop people as often as they did on the first two days.  A large number of Muslim devotees were seen attending Jum’a prayers. Shops and shopping malls remained closed.  However, kitchen markets were open as usual but they were not operating in open spaces violating the government directives. Besides, many people were seen ignoring health guidelines.  A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for a strict lockdown to contain the virus’ transmission. Bangladesh recorded over 7,000 daily cases before the number fell below 4,500. Also read: Lockdown: Many in Dhaka ignore restrictions in open defiance On Friday, the country recorded 101 deaths - its highest single-day fatality - and 4,417 new cases. Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus case on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 the same year. Amid the worsening Covid-19 situation, the government last week resorted to tough measures. The lockdown which began at 6am on April 14, will be in effect until April 21 midnight. 

While the fresh cases and deaths from coronavirus are spiraling in the country, the number of vehicles multiplied on the streets of Dhaka, posing a high-risk of mass-contamination of the deadly virus.

As many city dwellers came out of their homes during the last few days unnecessarily defying the government’s stay-at-home instruction, members of the Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Army took an aggressive stance on Thursday, forcing people to stay indoors again.