Although economic activities have resumed to a large extent, the entertainment centres in the capital city remain closed as part of measures to limit transmission of coronavirus which has officially infected nearly 270,000 people and killed several thousand of them.
On a warm Thursday afternoon, many residents of Dhaka came out of their homes and thronged the footpath in front of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban to get fresh air.
Bangladesh reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18. The government announced tough restrictions on movement, halting economic activities, to prevent the spread of the virus.
The move left thousands without jobs but allowed a small number of people to continue working from home. The government recently lifted some of the restrictions to facilitate the resumption of economic activities but issued a series of health guidelines.
However, the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. On Thursday, the health authorities announced the detection of 2,617 new cases and 44 deaths, pushing the local tally to 3,557.
But a large number of people choose to ignore the risks and health guidelines to ‘enjoy’ an afternoon walk with friends and families in front of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban.UNB
