The railways offering a cheaper and safer alternative is the preferred mode of transportation for the people. But public transportation has remained suspended since a lockdown was enforced earlier this month. Kamalapur Railway Station, which usually teems with life, has fallen silent. With the extended lockdown, passenger train services will remain suspended until April 28, as part of the government’s measures to curb the transmission of coronavirus. Also read: Lockdown: Pvt cars rise on Dhaka roads In the last 24 hours until Thursday morning, the country recorded 98 deaths and 4,014 new infections pushing the total number of cases to 736,074, said the Directorate General of Health Services. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 98 more deaths, 4014 new infections An UNB photographer captured photos of an empty and eerie Kamalapur Railway Station wearing a dejected look.

The movement of private vehicles has increased significantly over the last few days even with the government extending the ongoing lockdown for another week to counter the rising Covid-19 cases. People who have obtained their movement passes are allowed to commute in their vehicles while those in essential services are exempted from the restrictions, as per the directives of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). On Thursday, rickshaws, which provide last-mile connectivity to the residents, were, however, seen plying on many roads in the capital, including Mirpur Road, Banani and Mohakhali areas. The garment workers have been allowed to  join their workplaces as the government has kept the export-oriented industries open during the lockdown. Shops and shopping malls, however, remained closed as the government has enforced a stricter lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19 cases. Police and RAB members were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people after setting up check-posts in different areas of the capital. Asaduzzaman, a traffic Inspector, said, “The movement of private vehicles and rickshaws have increased in the last few days but we are allowing only those who movement passes to commute." "Those in emergency services are allowed to move freely," he added. Also read:Bangladesh put under complete lockdown amid Covid spike A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for an eight-day complete lockdown from April 14. The cabinet division issued a notification in this regard on April 12. Later, following the shattering situation of Covid-19 cases, the government extended the ongoing lockdown by another week from April 22 in an effort to bring the situation under control. A circular was issued on April 20 extending the ongoing strict lockdown for another week from April 22, aiming to curb the transmission of Covid-19. The operations of international special flights and banking activities will continue while other restrictions will remain in force till 28 April midnight. "The lockdown will remain in force from April 22 to 28 with the same restrictions imposed in the previous week. It’ll be a tougher one,” State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said on April 19. Also read:Fresh lockdown from Apr 22: State Minister As coronavirus cases continued to rise alarmingly since mid-March, the government imposed an apparently loose nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. Later a stricter lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21. Covid-19 situation Bangladesh registered 95 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours till Wednesday that pushed up the total number of fatalities to 10,683. Besides, 4,280 people were found infected during the period after testing of 28,408 samples, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a handout. On April 19, the country broke all the previous records of Covid-19 deaths registering 112 fatalities. Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month. Health authorities have so far confirmed 732,060 cases. Among them, 635,183 people -- 86.77 percent of all patients -- have recovered.

Faridpur District Administration has taken a vigilant stance in executing the week long countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19. A 15-member team has been formed to ensure people do not go out unnecessarily during this period. A mobile court, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Muhammad Al-amin has fined 6 people a total amount of Tk 9,200 for keeping their businesses  open. Also read: Day 4 of lockdown: Dhaka wears a deserted look Al-Amin said,” Only drug stores and pesticide stores can stay open during the lockdown. 6 people were fined as they disobeyed government’s instructions by keeping their business establishments open.”

A fresh lockdown with harsher measures is going to be enforced in the country from Wednesday (April 14, 2021) in an effort to rein in Covid transmission, but experts say the lockdown is unlikely to help reap any great results for lack of preparations to implement the restrictions.  They said a curfew-like situation must be created during the lockdown by engaging the members of the Army and BGB alongside the regular law enforcers to force people to maintain health safety rules and stay indoors. The experts also opposed the government’s decision to keep mills and factories open during the lockdown as they fear it will help the virus continue to spread. Read Local administration ‘vigilant’ in enforcing lockdown in Faridpur They said the government should have provided the destitute, day-laborers, and slum-dwellers with a specific amount of money to manage their food and livelihood before enforcing the lockdown. On April 5, a nationwide lockdown was enforced for a week keeping almost everything open. No positive impact of the lockdown is visible as the country witnessed the highest weekly increase in virus infections and fatalities with 47,518 new cases and 504 deaths during the period. Under the circumstances, the government on Monday issued a set of new directives to enforce a seven-day strict lockdown from Wednesday shutting all the offices and public transports. However, factories will remain open during the lockdown. Also read: Bangladesh put under complete lockdown amid Covid spike Lockdown preparations Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director (disease control) of the DGHS, said extensive preparations are needed to implement the lockdown strictly. "The big problem is that the government is going to enforce the lockdown again without any preparation. “When you want to keep 17 crore people indoors for seven days, it’s a matter of serious preparation. A large number of people are supposed to be engaged in such a move for its successful implementation,” he said.

The government has enforced a fresh strict lockdown for eight days from Wednesday in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. Under the fresh lockdown all government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices and financial institutions will remain closed but the officers and employees will have to stay in their respective work stations. The Cabinet division issued a notification in this regard on Monday. The lockdown will remain in force from 6:00 am Wednesday (April 14) till April 21 midnight. But the employees and staff of air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown. All modes of public transports, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. But Emergency services, carrying of goods, production services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. Also read: Ongoing lockdown extended upto Apr 13: Quader However, the restriction will not be effective in the case of carrying goods, emergency services and production. But industries and factories will remain open on condition of maintaining health protocols. The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinaris), crops, food laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass innoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), private security mangement, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. People’s movement will be restricted and no one will be allowed to go outside except for emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Factories, industries to operate All industries and factories will be allowed to continue their operation following health guidelines and the respective industries must take measures to carry their employees in their own vehicles. Hotels and restaurants to remain open Hotels and restaurants can operate with takeaway/online services only from 12 pm to 7 pm and 12 am to 6 am. No one will be allowed to have food sitting in hotels or restaurants. All shopping malls and markets will remain closed during this period. Also read: Police to issue movement pass during lockdown Daily essential items including kitchen items can be sold and purchased from open spaces from 9 am to 3 pm to maintain health protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it. The government imposed an apparently lose nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its tougher move to contain the spike in both coronavirus infections and fatalities. But the government allowed the resumption of public transport in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening shops and shopping malls for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown. The lockdown remained in force until April 13 (Tuesday).

The weeklong lockdown in Bangladesh entered the second day on Tuesday with a growing public apathy to it as a large number of private vehicles, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws started plying the city streets and people moving freely ignoring the risks of Covid-19 transmission.    However, public transports went off the roads while shops remained shut in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Also Read: Experts find lockdown in Bangladesh “unscientific, halfhearted” Office-goers endured sufferings to reach their destinations as they did the previous day.  Alongside private cars, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, microbus and CNG-run auto-rickshaws and many ride-sharing services were seen operating in the capital as usual. Shopping malls are closed as per the government instruction but shops were seen open in many areas. Visiting many city areas, the UNB correspondent found shops in lanes and by-lanes open despite the lockdown. Members of law enforcement agencies were seen at many points providing masks to those moving without masks ignoring the health guidelines. Also Read: Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreadin... The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken the initiative to distribute masks to raise awareness among people, said Iftekharul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of police (media). The points include Jatrabari intersection, Kaptan Bazar, Shapla Chattar, Uttar Badda Bazar and Khalpar areas of the city.