Shaheen Mollah

The government’s condition of maintaining health guidelines for allowing cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Even though the cattle markets in the capital were scheduled to start from Saturday, they are already witnessing large crowds as not only traders are bringing in sacrificial animals, people are also thronging there to purchase those, even amid the lockdown. 

To live off the streets of Dhaka is not merely living in hunger, it also comes with an immense lack of security. For the “tokai” -- a child waste picker -- living in the capital, hunger and malnutrition is almost the least of their concern, with much bigger dangers lurking around all the time.

“Get us out of here. Please help!” These were the last words Liton heard from his sister-in-law Jahanara Begum when he called her on Thursday evening.

Abul Kashem, 45, used to drive buses owned by others for 25 years and dreamed of one day owning his own bus.

Md Rasel, a 27-year-old peddler, regularly visits hospitals and diagnostic centres in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area to collect recyclable medical wastes.

26 years ago, a young Md Riajuddin came to Dhaka, from Mymensingh, to make a decent living.

The same old pictures of thousands of people leaving the capital have returned as the country braces for another lockdown.

For the past month, every lamppost, electric pole and balustrade in the neighbourhoods in Dhaka-14 constituency was strung up with technicolor posters of at least 33 politicians vying to be the oarsman of one boat -- that of the seat left empty by deceased parliamentarian Aslamul Haque.

Nazma Begum Swapna has spent half of her life living in Mohakhali’s Sattola slum.

After being attacked three times in last six years, receiving numerous death threats, and even after filing general diaries in this regard, Shahinuddin, a trader, was attacked once again on May 16 and lost his life this time.

The ban on inter-district buses and restrictions on public movement could not stop the mad rush of homebound people, as thousands made arduous journeys yesterday to celebrate the Eid with their loved ones amid the pandemic.

Be it on the highways or on ferries, people’s desperate rush to go to their home towns for Eid only heightened yesterday, despite mounting difficulties.

As Eid draws nearer, people desperate to go back to their home districts have continued to leave Dhaka despite all difficulties and while ignoring the restrictions the government imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

People are heading home for Eid in droves.

Holding a placard inscribed with “I am a volunteer. How can I help you?” Sagarika was waiting at the entrance of Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s Covid-19 unit. As soon as an ambulance arrived, she rushed towards it, helping the patient get off from the vehicle.

Since the countrywide “lockdown” started from April 5 to curb the spread of Covid-19, construction worker Md Sumon has been unable to find any work.

Forty-year-old Tasmin Begum was seen buying a pack of lentils for Tk 10 from her local shop near Karail slum last Monday.

Ashikuzzaman Khan, a computer engineer, who was injured in the deadly fire in Old Dhaka’s Armanitola on April 23, died on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Institute.

The sudden halt to oxygen import from India amid the second Covid-19 wave may put Bangladesh in a precarious position if the current coronavirus situation deteriorates, fear health officials and suppliers.