Why East Rajabazar and Wari under lockdown?
From May 31, the government opened the public and private offices and other businesses after two months of general holidays and restriction of movement
From Tuesday midnight the capital's East Rajabazar and Wari area will go under 14-day lockdown as pilot project to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the red zones.
Earlier on Saturday, some areas of Narayanganj and Cox's Bazar were put under the second phase of lockdown after labelling the areas as red-zones.
However, there is a question about why only East Rajabazar and Wari are being put under the pilot project despite other areas with higher infection cases in Dhaka.
According to the IEDCR's latest data, East Rajabazar has only 28 Covid-19 patients. Whereas there are 72 patients in Green Road, 68 in Kalabagan and 63 patients in Farmgate.
Faridur Rahman Khan, a local representative of East Rajabazar who is also the councilor of Ward No 27 of Dhaka North City Corporation, said that the area was chosen by the health ministry.
"Health ministry choose our area and asked us to take the required preparation. They know why they selected our area," said Faridur Rahman Khan.
The health ministry, however, said that the areas were selected on the accord of other stakeholders.
"The pilot program can be in any area. It is not that only the areas with the highest number of infected patients will be taken for pilot lockdown," said Md Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary and chief of media cell of health division.
"These two areas were chosen as we have got positive responses for the local representatives, police, and other stakeholders," he added.
Md Habibur Rahman Khan said that during the lockdown they will observe the areas' situation and asses how the policy works.
"Other infected areas will be brought under the lockdown during the same time or after the getting experience from this one," he further said.
From May 31, the government opened the public and private offices and other businesses after two months of general holidays and restriction of movement.
From then on, the daily number of infection cases from Covid-19 pandemic has gradually increased.
Observing the spread of the virus, now the government has decided to divide the country with three colour coded zones: Red, Yellow and Green.
The red and yellow zones are likely to go under strict restrictions where all types of movement will be banned.