Police arrested 251 more people in Dhaka on Monday for violating lockdown restrictions on the 18th day of the countrywide lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 spread. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for being out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 74,150 in fines from 102 people. Also read: Govt may impose tough lockdown if situation deteriorates: Quader Also, the Traffic Division collected Tk 10,45,000  as penalties from 468 vehicles for violating lockdown restrictions. The number of vehicles and people on the city’s streets were comparatively higher on Monday than the previous day. Also read: Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow

Police arrested 241 more people in Dhaka on Sunday for violating lockdown restrictions on the 17th day of the countrywide lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 spread. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for being out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 37,450 in fines from 84 people. Read: Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow Also, the Traffic Division collected Tk 12,18,000  as penalties from 537 vehicles for violating lockdown restrictions. The number of vehicles and people on the city’s streets were comparatively higher on Sunday than the previous day. The movement of people and vehicles increased significantly on the 17th day of lockdown on as many people are coming out of their houses for various reasons. Read: Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka Some people are going outside for vaccination as mass vaccination programme began in the country on Saturday while many more for other reasons as export-oriented factories were opened on August 1. It is only the shopping malls and eateries that remained closed and public transport stayed off roads as per lockdown rules.

Police arrested 354 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 12th day of the countrywide strict lockdown on Tuesday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,77,000 in fines from 120 people. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,12,3000 as penalties from 532 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. On the 12th day of lockdown, the streets of Dhaka flooded with vehicles bringing back its chaotic days. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Everything except public transports were plying city streets and people wandering around with little or no regard to the health guidelines. The government, meanwhile, has extended the current lockdown till August 10.

Police arrested 343 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 11th day of the 14-day nationwide lockdown on Monday. These people were arrested as they failed to show any valid reason for coming out of their homes, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts realised Tk 1,89,800 as fines from 135 people in the capital. Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 8,24,500 as penalties from 366 vehicles for non-compliance of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Bangladesh has been under a fresh lockdown since July 23 last, barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons.  But 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. 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. Reimposed at 8 am on July 23, the second round of strict lockdown will be in force till August 5, unless extended further. The government on Friday (July 30) allowed industry owners to reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August amid countrywide stringent lockdown.

Police arrested 303 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 10th day of the 14-day countrywide strict lockdown on Sunday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,16,100 as fines from 103 people. Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 4,45,500 as penalties from 183 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. As mills and factories reopened on Sunday following the government’s announcement, public transports were seen on the roads till noon carrying workers and staff to the city. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Those who had left the capital for Eid-ul-Azha and did not return due to the closure of factories were seen entering the city on foot amid the lockdown. Good number of buses and other vehicles were seen around Abdullahpur Tongi Bridge, Ashulia Bridge, Aminbazar Bridge, Gabtoli, Babubazar Bridge and Postogola Bridge. Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj also saw a huge crowd as people from south western districts were coming back to the capital to join their work. However, the streets in Dhaka saw a lower number of CNG autorickshaws and private vehicles. Visiting Gabtoli, Technical Intersection, Kamalapur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, New Market and Mirpur areas and Uttara, Abdullahpur, Banani, Mohakhali, Airport, Satrasta, Kakrail, Matshya Bhaban, the UNB correspondent found few private cars and CNG autorickshaws. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues The number of three-wheeler rickshaws was more than the previous day. Members of the police, Rab and BGB were seen patrolling the city streets and checking vehicles at check posts in different parts of the capital. Re-imposed at 8 am on July 23, the current round of strict lockdown will be in force till August 5, unless extended further.

Police arrested 481 people in Dhaka  for violating lockdown restrictions on the 9th day of the 14-day countrywide strict lockdown on Saturday The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 2,06,710  as fines from  202 people. Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 10,45,000 as penalties from 440 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Although public transport movement remained suspended, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka, following the government’s announcement that mills and factories will reopen on Sunday (Aug 1). Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Those who had left the capital for Eid-ul-Azha and did not return due to the closure of factories were seen entering the city on foot amid the lockdown.

Police arrested 381 people in Dhaka  for violating lockdown restrictions on the 8th day of the 14-day (unless extended) countrywide lockdown on Friday. It was the first time in a week that the number dropped below 500, as movement of vehicles and people was comparatively less,  presumably for being a holiday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 6,7940  as fines from 108 people. During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 817000 as penalties from 321 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Read: Bangladesh records 212 more Covid deaths setting off alarm bells Although people movements were less inside Dhaka, the scenario was different at the entry points as the UNB correspondents observed  huge groups of people entering the capital, maintaining the trend of the last few days. As the law enforcement agencies are arresting and collecting fimes from people for violating restrictions on one hand, the government has decided to  reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August  on the other. The cabinet division has issued a notification in this regard stating that all export-oriented factories will remain out of the purview of the ongoing lockdown restrictions which is expected to continue till Aug 5, unless extended further. The decision came today after the business leaders  on Thursday requested the government to reopen garment factories and other industries amid the lockdown. The government reinforced 14-day strict lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation till August 5. Read: Covid surge in Bangladesh: Primary schools to remain shut until Aug 31 Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid, mills and factories were instructed to remain closed during this time. There are speculations that the government might extend the lockdown as the Covid infections are at its peak  shattering records of highest single day transmissions and deaths every other day.

Police arrested 568 people in Dhaka  for violating lockdown restrictions on the 7th day of the 14-day countrywide lockdown on Wednesday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 3,40,100  as fines from 206 people. During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 9,97,500 as penalties from 431 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka However, any amount of fines or deaths recorded due to Covid-19 is apparently not enough to keep people at their home as traffic on the streets of capital Dhaka is increasing with every passing day amid the lockdown. The number of vehicles and people increased substantially on Dhaka streets on Thursday. Many people were seen coming out and wandering without any valid reason while health protocols are hardly maintained in most cases. However, the movement of private vehicles has increased as many private offices have arranged vehicles for the movement of their own staff. But public transport stayed off the roads as per the directives of the government. Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily toll remains above 200; 15,271 more infected People were seen reaching their destinations by rickshaws as it is available during the lockdown. Traffic inspector Asaduzzaman, said, “The number of vehicles is increasing day by day. We’re checking every vehicle. Those who failed to justify their outdoor movement are fined and cases lodged for violating lockdown rules.”

Police arrested 562 people for being out there on the streets violating restrictions even as the capital city saw an increased number of private cars and public movement on the 6th day of the 14-day lockdown on Wednesday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,61,130 as fines from  208 people. During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,13,0000 as penalties from 489 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Despite the measures taken by the authorities, people continue to venture out with families and friends in the capital defying the lockdown rules even though the Covid outbreak has turned vicious in the country. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka There was nothing different on Wednesday as people were seen roaming without emergency reasons with private cars and rickshaws plying everywhere. Dhaka wore almost a normal look with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Only the movement of public transport remained suspended as per the government restrictions.

In the midst of the strictest phase of COVID-19 restrictions imposed in the country since the start of the pandemic, one group of 50-60 people somehow found it appropriate to organise a picnic - and not even be discreet about it. The strictness of the restrictions of course reflect the severity of the outbreak and how that has shifted. It shouldn't take an epidemiologist to tell us that Bangladesh is currently experiencing the worst phase of its entire outbreak. The daily numbers coming out of DGHS, and out of them three in particular, are stark enough to not require expert interpretation of what they mean from a public health perspective. The fact is that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 being reported on each day, the number of new cases, and the latest positivity rate (the percentage of tests returning positive for the virus), are all pointing in the wrong direction, and they've done so for quite a prolonged period now. Yet as if oblivious to it all, this group of people hired out a trawler for the day, and blaring loud, incongruous picnic music on the vessel's PA system, set sail on Sunday morning down a famous canal in Chandpur. Read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 200+ deaths, 11,291 new cases recorded That they would be so brazen about it would prove their undoing however, as word started going around almost immediately of this blatant breach of the emergency restrictions. By mid-day, Matlab Dakkhin UNO Fahmida Haque, assuming her executive magistrate powers leading a mobile court, was able to reach the spot on the Boaljuri canal that they were in. There she broke up the picnic with other officials and made five of the organizers pay a penalty of Tk 11,500 against five cases of violating lockdown rules by organising a public gathering and playing loud music on speakers. During the raid, the UNO seized the food catered for the picnic party and later distributed it among some local orphanages and madrasahs - fashioning a good ending to a story that could so easily have been sordid.