As the ‘strict’ lockdown rolled into its 5th straight day on Tuesday, the streets in capital Dhaka saw a higher number of private vehicles with people trying to pick up the social life amid the worsening Covid situation. When the restrictions were reimposed just after Eid-ul-Azha, the roads in the capital had fallen silent in the first few days. Part of it was the fact that many had retreated to their home districts or villages for Eid holiday, and were yet to return.  But now things are changing fast with every passing day as the roads are becoming busier with the bustle of vehicles with many people returning to Dhaka defying the Covid restrictions and warnings by health authorities. Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday arrested 555 people in the capital - maintaining the level from the previous two days and the traffic police department fined 497 vehicles a total of Tk 11,73,000 for violating lockdown rules. Meanwhile, 236 people across the city were fined Tk 4,83,975 by mobile court for  not following health guidelines and restrictions.

The third day of the ongoing strict lockdown saw increased number of people and vehicles on the streets of capital city on Sunday as police made more arrests and collected bigger sum of fines. The increased movement may partly be due to the reopening of banks and return of Eid holidaymakers to the city, police said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 587 people and traffic police collected Tk 12,72,000 as fines from 521 vehicles for violating lockdown rules on Sunday. Meanwhile, 233 people across the city were fined Tk 1,00,950 by mobile courts for not following the restrictions and health guidelines. Read: Day 2 of reinforced lockdown: 383 arrested in capital RAB and Army personnel patrolling the streets of the city alongside local police, were seen monitoring the movement of vehicles and people setting up strategic check-posts in different areas. Though check-posts were set up from Gabtoli-Mirpur Road-New Market to Uattara-Airport-Mohakhali, to prevent unwanted movement, people on the streets showed different excuses when caught by law enforcers, Traffic  officer Asaduzzaman of Mohakhai said. “Many people were still returning to the city after the Eid holidays.” Though some were seen carrying luggage on foot, a good number of people were halted at the entry points of the city including Abdullahpur, Uttara, Tongi, Amin Bazar bridge and Babu Bazar bridge, he said. Read: 403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest However, as per the government instructions, only ambulances and those in emergency services were allowed to enter the capital. On Thursday, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB that this lockdown would be stricter than the one imposed last time. "Police, the paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guard and the Army will keep a strict vigil on the roads." The second round of strict lockdown started on 8 am of July 23 that would continue till Aug. 5 unless further extended.

Upping its guard against the devastating Delta variant of Covid-19, the Bangladesh government on Thursday announced the resumption of the countrywide strict lockdown from July 23. The restrictions are to come into force at 8am on July 23 and will continue till August 5 midnight, unless extended again. Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, however, told UNB that this lockdown will be stricter than the one imposed last time. Police, the para-military Bangladesh Border Guard and the Army will keep a strict vigil on the roads. "Offices, courts, garment factories and all other export-oriented industries, everything to be precise, will remain closed. Strict restrictions will remain as before," he said. Despite industry bodies BGMEA and FBCCI urging the government to keep garment and related industries out of the purview of the Covid lockdown, the Minister said that no decision was taken this month. "We will take a call as per the situation," he added. Read: Lockdown: Vehicles, public movement increase in capital city on the 6th day Asked if there were any plans to ease the lockdown for those who went home for Eid, he said, "No, those who went back to their home districts can't return to the city before August 5. We had made it clear earlier too." On July 13, the government decided to ease the lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days due to Eid-ul-Azha. The lockdown restrictions were lifted a day later.

The global Covid-19 caseload is fast nearing the grim milestone of 191 million as the highly contagious Delta variant is spreading rapidly in several countries amid mass vaccination drives. The total caseload and fatalities stand at 190,877,071 and 4,095,650, respectively, as of Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). So far, 3,646,506,843 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe. Read:Natural origins theory of Covid-19 still the most likely: Fauci The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 34,129,941 cases. Besides, 609,231 people have lost their lives in the US to date, as per the JHU data. Brazil has registered 542 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 542,756, the health ministry said Monday. As many as 15,271 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,391,845, the ministry said. Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll after the United States, and the third-largest caseload after the United States and India. The third worst-hit country, India's tally rose to 31,144,229 after 38,164 new cases were registered in the past 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed. Besides, 499 deaths due to the pandemic since Sunday morning took the total death toll to 414,108. Situation in Bangladesh Reeling from the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh on Monday saw 231 corona-related deaths, the highest since the pandemic hit the country, amid an eight-day pause in the nationwide strict lockdown. Read: Covid’s frightening peak in Bangladesh; record 231 more die The situation is likely to get worse because of the fallout from the lockdown pause ahead of Eid holidays, many experts believe. With Covid's Delta variant spreading fast, Bangladesh have already tallied more than 1.1 million infections and 18,000-plus deaths from the pandemic. The country's fatalities have been hovering at roughly 200 for the past two weeks. Also, Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh have reached 99% of the peak, with more than 11,828 new cases reported each day. The highest daily average was reported on July 15. The country recorded 13,321 infections in 24 hours till Monday morning after testing 45,012 samples. Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 230 on July 11 and 13,768 infections the next day. The second wave of the pandemic is threatening to overwhelm the country's health infrastructure. There have been 1,117,310 infections and 18,125 coronavirus-related deaths in Bangladesh since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read:Covid claims 52 more lives in Khulna division 1,165 fresh cases recorded Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate rose to 29.59% though the death rate remained unchanged at 1.62%, and the recovery rate dropped to 84.25%. Dhaka division reported the highest 73 deaths, Khulna 57, Chattogram 43, Rangpur 17, Rajshahi 16, Mymensingh 11, Sylhet eight and Barisal six. So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 10,908,272 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.

The Bangladesh Bank has set a new schedule for transactions at the banks against the backdrop of the government decision to relax the ongoing strict lockdown from July 15. As per a new circular issued by the central bank, now banks will carry out transactions from 10 am to 4 pm on July 15th, 18th and 19th instead of the existing 10 am to 2:30 pm. The circular says they can operate until 6 pm for conducting their other office activities instead of the previously set time of 4 pm. However, it says, banks will remain open on July 17 and 20 in Dhaka city, Ashulia, Tonga, Gazipur, Samar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattagram with transaction time from 10 am to 2 pm to facilitate the payment of salary to the garment and other industry workers and trading of garment export bills. Also read: Bank transaction timing extended up to 2:30 pm During the period, banks can remain open until 3:30 pm to conduct their own activities. The cheque clearing house of Bangladesh Bank will be operating during the period. But banks in these areas will not receive any cheque from other areas for the sake of smooth clearing. The banks will operate on a limited scale from July 25 to August 5 with new transaction hours from 10 am to 1:30 pm maintaining all health safety instructions with limited staff. The central bank circular says the other regular activities of banks will remain in operation during the strict restriction from July 25 to August 5 in compliance with the government’s instructions. Also read: Bank transactions from 10 am to 1:30 pm from July 4-7 During this period, the head offices of banks and the branches located at the land ports, sea ports and customs area will remain open in consultation with the local administrations. The banks operate branches with required staff while internet banking service will continue for 24 hours. They have to ensure the operation of ATM booths to facilitate transactions through cards by supplying adequate cash in the machines, said the BB circular.

The ongoing ‘strict lockdown’ may be eased from July 15 to July 22, said a handout of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The handout said the Cabinet division will issue a notification in this regard. However, the strict lockdown may be reinforced from July 23, it added. A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to go for the lockdown. Also read: Train services to be on from July 15-22: Minister The nationwide strict lockdown, first imposed for a week until July 7 midnight, has now been extended for another week until July 14 midnight as the Covid infection rate keeps surging across the country. Also read: 604 people held in city during lockdown

Police arrested 708 people and fined Tk 5,52,500 from vehicles in the capital for lockdown breaches on the eleventh day, Sunday. The arrestees were out on the streets violating restrictions, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 5,38,680 as fines from 184 people. Also read: Breaching Lockdown: 585 arrested, Tk 8.9 lakh realised in fines During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 5,52,500 as penalties from 244 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Bangladesh is currently under a 14-day lockdown imposed to tame an alarming surge in the Covid infections across the country. Also read: Lockdown Breaches: 1077 arrested as more people defy restrictions Started on July 1 the nationwide strict lockdown will continue till July 14 midnight. Meanwhile, both Covid cases and fatalities continue to hit new records.

Zimbabwe has returned to strict lockdown measures to combat a resurgence of COVID-19 amid vaccine shortages, the country’s information minister announced Tuesday. Infections have dramatically increased in recent weeks despite a night curfew, reduced business hours, localized lockdowns in hotspot areas, and a ban on inter-city travel. The virus has spread to rural areas which have sparse health facilities. Read:Virus infections surging in Africa’s vulnerable rural areas To try to contain the spread, most people must stay at home, similar to restrictions on movement adopted in March last year when towns and cities became almost deserted, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced after a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. People will now need letters from employers to justify why they must venture out of their neighborhoods “with immediate effect,” said Mutsvangwa. “Stiffer penalties will be imposed for violations,” including revoking the licenses of offending businesses, she said. Read:Fearing COVID, struggling Malawian women forgo prenatal care Zimbabwe is one of more than 14 African countries where the delta variant is quickly spreading. Infections are shooting up. Zimbabwe’s 7-day rolling average of daily new cases quadrupled over the past two weeks from 2.04 new cases per 100,000 people on June 21 to 8.39 new cases per 100,000 people on July 5, according to Johns Hopkins University. Previously the country’s crowded cities were the centers of infection, but now rural areas are hard hit, said Mutsvangwa. Read:Ethiopia declares immediate, unilateral cease-fire in Tigray Government officials reported shortages of personal protective equipment, misinformation discouraging people from getting vaccines and shortages of health care workers. Some rural district hospitals require bulk oxygen tanks, while others need “functional” isolation centers, Mutsvangwa said. Zimbabwe is one of many African countries suffering a resurgence of the disease, in contrast to other parts of the world where vaccines have allowed a return to something like normal life. To date, 9% of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people have received at least one vaccine dose and 3.7% have received two doses. Across Africa, less than 2% of the continent’s 1.3 billion people have received at least one vaccine jab, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Livestock farmers in Chapainawabganj have entire herds of cattle they intend to sell for slaughter ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, despite being in the news recently for being crippled by COVID-19. Officials at the district Livestock Department said around 1.5 lac sacrificial animals are ready to be sacrificed in the district for Eid-ul-Azha. They are expecting to supply those to other districts after fulfilling local demand, they said. Read: No cattle from outside country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha: Livestock Minister The farmers of the district told UNB that there is no need to bring sacrificial animals from the other side of the border keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, as they are confident that the homegrown cattle would be enough to meet the demand. They also demanded the authorities concerned take steps  to halt smuggling of cattle from India to ensure fair prices for local farmers. Livestock farmers are now busy nurturing cattle in more than 13,000 cattle farms in the district. The financial health of these farms depends to a great extent on good sales for Eid ul Azha.  Local livestock officer doctor Mostafizur Rahman confirmed the numbers to UNB. Read:Digital Haat 2021 launched with target to sell 1 lakh cattle before Eid “The total demand of cattle for slaughter in the district is no more than 1.04 lac, but more than 1.5 lac cattle are ready in the district,” he said. That means the farmers plan to sell almost 50,000 cattle to other parts of Bangladesh. Eid ul Azha is expected to be celebrated in around a fortnight's time in Bangladesh, depending on the sighting of the moon. The country is currently in the midst of a strict lockdown due to Covid-19. But Chapainawabganj has been in lockdown from the last week of May, when cases started shooting up in the district after the Delta variant of the virus, then known simply as the Indian variant, was detected in multiple patients in the frontier district.  In this situation the cattle farmers may face some extra bottlenecks in transporting the cattle to different parts of the country. They may possibly take a leaf out of the mango farmers in the district, another thriving trade in the district.  Read:Enough cattle in Bangladesh for sacrifices during Eid: DLS While lockdown was imposed in Chapainawabganj, the 'seasonal mango business' was exempted from the restrictions, allowing for the region's famous mangoes to be enjoyed by the entire country, and the farmers to do a roaring trade in the seasonal fruit. Even buyers from outside the district were allowed to go in and buy mangoes. Whether cattle farmers can benefit from a similar directive remains to be seen.  In the latest numbers, the Covid-19 situation has been improving somewhat in the district. On July 3 the district reported 61 new cases. 

Banks will remain closed on Sunday also as per new instructions of the Bangladesh Bank following the countrywide strict lockdown that began on Thursday, July 1.A circular of the Bangladesh Bank, issued on June 30, said the banks will remain closed also on Sunday in addition to Friday, Saturday weekends during the lockdown until July 7.Banks will conduct transactions from 10 am to 1:30 pm during the 7-day restrictions. Also read: Banks to transact from 10 am to 3 pm from until June 16 However, they can operate until 3:30 pm for conducting their other office activities.  The new schedule comes into effect from July 4 (Sunday).The normal transaction hours of banks  are from 10 am to 4pm.During this period, the head offices of banks will remain open while state-owned banks will keep open one branch at district level and one branch at upazila level while private banks will keep open one branch at district level and maximum two branches outside the district level with limited manpower.The bank authorities will take measures to provide transportation support to their staff in consultation with the local administration. The banks will keep open their principal and authorized dealer (AD) branches with required staff while internet banking service will continue for 24 hours. Also read: Banks can open during local lockdown, says central bankThey have to ensure operation of ATM booths to facilitate transactions through cards by supplying adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain suspended until further order, said the circular issued on April 13.