People belonging to the lower-income groups in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country were venturing out in search of food and work on Tuesday during the special holiday announced to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
While the army troopers and police units were on patrols setting up checkpoints on major roads to maintain social distancing in the cities, many people, cars and rickshaws were seen on the roads.
The poor gathered at points to see whether any food or relief were being distributed as some affluent people, police and army personnel were seen distributing meals to the poor in Dhaka and Chattogram.
Day labourers were seen at Kataban and Kakrail heading towards their workplaces in the morning with their tools in hands while most mosques in Dhaka were also conducting regular prayers.
Many grocery shops and kitchen markets were back in business.
At New Market, police inspector (operations) Sher Alam said, ‘We are setting check posts to restrict vehicular movements on the road. We are inquiring as to why they were on the road.’
New Market police station has set up two checkpoints near TT College and under the Gawsia foot-over bridge on Mirpur Road where public movements surged at noon.
Despite the presence of police, dozens of floating people and day labourers were seen at Science Laboratory intersection looking for food and work.
‘I came here to collect food as I need to feed my children…where do I get food? I waited a few days but came out on the street today,’ said Moni Akhter, 45, with baby in the lap. She said she reached from Lalbagh to the Mirpur road to find out if anyone donated anything.
Rickshaw-puller Jalal Uddin Mollah, among others, was upset and said, ‘I earned only Tk 40 since morning. What can I do with this?’ Another from the small group said ‘I am an able-bodied man and how can I take to begging?’
At about 12:45pm, the Dhaka South City Corporation chief executive officer Shah Md Imdadul Hoque arrived at the intersection with some cash in hand. He tried to distribute cash among the people but not everyone was lucky during such hasty distribution.
At Sobhanbagh, several dozen of lower-income people were seen gathering in front of Deen Mohammad Eye Hospital to collect food but many were frustrated over what little was distributed.
‘I tried to collect but failed. My daughter Shima gave birth to a baby on March 9 and they need food. But, I am refused as the food was already finished’ said Taslima Begum of Nabinagor.
Taslima said she used to sell flowers in front of Aarong at Asad Gate but she could not do anything to earn her daily bread since the lockdown.
At Dhanmondi, none of the restaurants were found opened at about 12:50 but people were seen gossiping while tea stalls were attracting clients in front of Town Hall Market in Mohammadpur at 1:00pm.
Both city corporations in Dhaka were preparing a list of over 1 lakh vulnerable people from 129 wards.
Dhaka South City Corporation outgoing mayor Sayeed Khokon admitted that food distribution for vulnerable groups was a challenge for them but they were preparing lists of the ultra-poor and was determined to maintain ‘impartiality’ and transparency during distributing.
