Social-distancing rules largely unheeded in Dhaka

The coronavirus outbreak has forced countries around the world to adopt measures such as flight bans, mandatory lockdowns, and social distancing to prevent the pandemic from spreading. Bangladesh has also banned flights, shut down schools and colleges, put some areas under lockdown as countermeasure against the pandemic but shops, offices still remain open.

The people of megacity Dhaka seem to have overcome the inhibition or fear of coronavirus pandemic and caring a little too social distancing rules.

Thousands of people thronged the city’s new market area on Saturday morning while roads seemed as usual with an abundance of vehicles.

Even if specific restrictions were given, areas put under lockdown, social distancing rules, during this Covid-19 pandemic, have been largely ignored in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

UNB Photo Journalist on Saturday captured some horrific images of violation of physical social distancing rules that pose a great threat in the very near future.

Bangladesh on Saturday crossed the grim milestone of 2 lakh coronavirus cases with no visible sign of decline in the virus infections. 

The country reported 2,709 more fresh cases with 24.80 percent infection rate and 34 more new deaths in the last 24 hours.

Prof Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director (disease control) of the DGHS, said Bangladesh must scale up tracing, testing, isolation and quarantine across the country.

The government should enforce lockdown at least in 500 red zones and identify the infected people and isolate them from others to control the virus outbreak, he suggested.

“Without adequate tests and strict lockdown, we won’t be able to get rid of the virus in the near future,” he added.