Cox's Bazar municipal area has been locked down for the second time, declaring it as the country's 'first red zone' due to the increase in coronavirus infection. The first day of the lockdown was passed in a loosely way.
However, despite the administration's directive to close all types of transport, markets, shops and stores, except for vehicles engaged in pharmacy and corona prevention activities, many are not complying with it. The movement of vehicles and people was present in a limited scale.
Besides, the concerned people of the administration including the police have not yet been seen to be fully active in the field to implement the lockdown in the 'Red Zone'.
The lockdown started in the entire municipal area of Cox's Bazar from 12 am on Saturday night and it will continue till 12 am on June 20, said Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Kamal Hossain.
According to the administration's announcement, grocery stores and raw markets and financial institutes like banks will remain open on a limited basis from 8 am to 4 pm on Sundays and Thursday of the week in compliance with hygiene rules. Besides, light and heavy vehicles carrying daily necessities will be allowed to ply in the municipal area only from 8 pm to 8 am during the lockdown. However Covid-19 centers and emergency service providers can be kept open on a limited scale during the time.
Ambulances, patient transport, private vehicles providing healthcare for covid-19 patients and vehicles providing emergency services will be exempted from lockdown. In order to deal with covid-19, the permission of the administration has to be obtained for the movement of vehicles of non-government organizations and institutions.
In addition to these, the administration has directed the public transport bus terminal to be moved out of the municipal area and not to distribute relief, food items or other products in public places or in public gatherings.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain issued an urgent notification in this regard on Friday afternoon and based on that lockdown started from Saturday.
The number of corona cases has increased at an alarming rate in Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila including Cox's Bazar Municipal Area as on May 31 the first lockdown was lifted all over the country. In this context, the district administration has announced a new 15-day lockdown.
On the first day of the second phase of the lockdown in Cox's Bazar municipal area, various types of public transport and private vehicles were seen plying in the alleys of the city including the main road without following the rules and regulations of the administration. Most shops and businesses were closed, but a small number were still open. A number of hawkers were also sitting on the road.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain in this regard said, Cox's Bazar district is number 4 in the country in terms of corona infection. Most of them are the residents of Cox's Bazar municipal area. Besides, 19 people died in the district. 13 of them are residents of Cox's Bazar municipal area.
In view of these, the Cox's Bazar Corona Prevention Committee divided the Cox's Bazar district into 3 parts, Red Zone, Yellow Zone and Green Zone. Among them, the municipality has been made a red zone and brought under lockdown again.
For the implementation of this lockdown, 45 volunteers have been taken in each ward. They have started working with the municipal councilors from Sunday. Besides, 124 metric tons of rice, Tk 1,17,76 in cash and Tk 44,160 for baby food were distributed to the unemployed in the municipal area on Friday.
Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Iqbal Hossain said, "On the first day of lockdown the restrictions were reduced to make people a little more aware.
We want those whose lives we are working to save, to understand at least a little bit about the crisis”.In the last 63 days, a total of 6,351 suspected patients were tested for corona virus in a lab set up at Cox's Bazar Medical College. Of these, 958 reports were found to be corona positive.
