Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the party’s divisional rally in Cumilla on Saturday morning, amid relative ease with no transport strike this time. Cumilla city unit of BNP arranged the rally that formally began at 11:05am at Cumilla Town Hall ground. The rally venue has been teeming with opposition leaders and activists since morning as they gathered there from different upazilas of Cumilla and adjoining districts, including Brahmanbaria and Chandpur. Unlike the party’s previous rallies in other divisions, BNP leaders and followers faced less hassles in Cumilla to join the programme as no transport strike has been enforced here. The rally in Cumilla is the 8th by BNP at the divisional level after others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur and Sylhet. An adequate number of police and security officials have been deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the town to prevent any untoward incident. Read more: BNP's Cumilla rally set to take place amid relative ease The organisers said the rally was meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, the death of five party activists in police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government – a demand rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it. Read more: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar

After celebrating Eid at their respective village homes, the working people started returning to Dhaka city for the second day from Monday morning facing various difficulties due to absence of mass transports. Though there is no specific statistics, thousands of people had left Dhaka city for thier respective villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones despite a ban on inter-district public transport services due to the worsening Covid-19 situation. As Eid-Ul-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals for the Muslim Ummah, was celebrated across the country on Friday, hundreds of city dwellers have started to return to the city from Sunday morning after celebrating the Eid. Similarly, people started returning the city for the 2nd consecutive day of Monday.  Witnesses said a large number of people were seen crossing Tongi Bridge from Tongi Bazar to Abdullahpur of Uttara, Amin Bazar Bridge from Amin Bazar to Gabtoli, Postagola Burigonga bridge of Shympur and Babu Bazar Burigonga Bridge of Babu Bazar by foot.  Also read: 20- km tailback on Dhaka-Aricha highway The government has imposed lockdown restrictions since April 14 due to an increase in the coronavirus infection in the country. Even though long-distance buses are closed, people are returning  from their respective villages to the Dhaka city to join their respective workplaces, especially garments industries.  The government has again extended the ongoing restrictions on public movement and gathering, or so-called, lockdown, for another week -- until May 23 -- to contain the spread of Covid-19. Earlier before the Eid, despite government's effort to refrain the city dwellers from leaving Dhaka city, people had rushed to different districts of North and South in different small vehicles, even in goods trucks or pickups. Even the ferry was closed during the day and BGB was deployed to prevent them from crossing the Padma but government’s effort went on in vain. Amir Hossain, an employee of a garments industry of Mirpur Section-12,  said he went to his native village in Shibchar of Madaripur district to celebrate the Eid festival facing various difficulties. Similarly he has returned Dhaka today (Monday noon) as he has to join his factory tomorrow (Tuesday). Witnesses said people are using microbus, private car, auto-rickshaw, pick-up Van, motorcycles and other vehicles to reach Burigonga bridge from Mawa ferry ghat. Similarly, people are using same types of vehicles to reach Amin Bazar bridge or cAshulia from Patoria ferry ghat.  Besides, Private cars, microbuses , motorcycles and other types of vehicles like Pick-up van are being used to reach Tongi Bazar, Chattragram Road for Dhaka city from other destinations.  Traffic Inspector Shahidur Rahman, on-duty near Babu Bazar Bridge, said people are returning Dhaka city from Sunday morning after celebrating the Eid. As inter-district passengers’ buses are restricted to enter the Dhaka city, people are entering the city crossing the bridge by foot, he added. Also read: People still trying to leave Dhaka defying restrictions, ignoring Covid risks As Covid-19 cases kept growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government had imposed a "loose nationwide lockdown" for one week from April 5. Later, a "stricter lockdown" was announced from April 14 to 21. On April 28, the government again extended the restrictions until May 5 and issued six fresh directives as the country is struggling to contain the Covid-19 transmission. 

People are not responding seriously to the government announced strong restriction on movement from April 14 though the second wave is more deadly and dangerous.  Visiting different parts of the city, including kitchen markets and shopping malls, our correspondent found people moving about as usual. Visiting the kitchen markets of Jatrabari and Shanir Akhra, a huge number of people were seen gathered to collect their essential products and daily needs while the crowd had turned big before the Iftar time. Also read: Lockdown to be extended up to May 5: State Minister A long queue of people was also seen selling Iftar items around the city. A visitor Dulal Sikder told UNB that he came out of his house everyday to collect Iftar items for his family members, as it is like a tradition for him to take food from the restaurant and makeshift shops during Ramadan. "I know it is risky  to go out and stay at any gathering point during this pandemic.  But this gives a little relief for my family members as they fast the whole day. I try to maintain health guidelines and wear mask wherever I go," he said. In the kitchen market, most of the buyers and sellers were not keen to wear masks and use sanitizers.  But shopping malls such as Ayesha Shopping Mall and RS Shopping Complex in the Jatrabari area appeared quite aware of the health protocols and most people were using their mask. Kazi Suman, an owner of a clothing shop, said they were not happy or satisfied with the number of buyers as they are unable to sell their products as per their expectations in Ramadan, the highest selling month of the year. Also read: Lockdown climbdown: 10am-9pm for shopping confirmed People are not coming as restrictions on public transport are still going on. Some also collect their dresses from the online shops as they feel unsafe to come at this time, he said. Although the government announced a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it has no effect on the roads in Gulistan, one of the busiest points of the city, as CNG, motorbikes, private cars and even public buses were found running.