Staff Correspondent

The number of vehicles and people increased on the city streets and elsewhere of the country yesterday -- the sixth day of the 14-day countrywide strict lockdown, defying government’s instructions to stay home amid an alarming surge of Covid-19 cases.

More people were seen on the main streets as well as in the alleys compared to the past few days.

Besides, people were seen gathering at kitchen and grocery markets, disregarding health rules of wearing face-masks and maintaining social distance.

Police, Rapid action Battalion (Rab) and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen checking movement of people and vehicles at different points of the capital.

A traffic inspector told The Daily Star that the number of vehicles is higher than Monday, as many offices dealing with emergency services remained open.

A number of people have been detained by law enforcers yesterday, as they failed to show valid reasons. Besides, more cases were also filed for flouting lockdown curbs.

Traffic congestion was seen in some places of the capital. The presence of rickshaws and cars increased on different streets too.

People also thronged different areas including Agargaon, Bosila, Mohammadpur, Asadgate, Farmgate and Karwan Bazar. Many passengers had to pay higher rickshaw fares.

SM Bazlur Rashid, assistant commissioner (traffic) of Motijheel zone, said, “We are checking and taking legal measures against vehicles and drivers coming out without valid reason.”

In Chattogram, the number of commuters and private vehicles has been on the rise in the port city roads since Monday. Movement was little in the first four days of the lockdown.

People were seen going out without any necessity or by giving excuses. Many were seen without face-mask. Although the administration and law enforcers are apprehending and fining many daily, it did not prove to be enough to keep people at home.

Under this circumstance, the district administration announced a joint drive yesterday, which would continue till Wednesday.

Mominur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Chattogram, during a briefing to journalists at Chattogram Circuit House yesterday acknowledged that many people in the city could not be kept at home, despite the strict stance of administration and law-enforcers.

Financial institutions, including banks, remained closed till Sunday, and presence of people and vehicles was little till that day, he said, adding that when the institutions opened on Monday, people were seen on roads with different excuses.

PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

Carrying passengers on motorbikes is prohibited during the lockdown, but these two sitting on the back were going to Mawa from Sonir Akhra yesterday. This was not an isolated case. Many are hiring bikes for up to thrice the regular fare to go to village homes ahead of Eid. The two had paid Tk 1,200 for the rather risky ride.