Police take stringent measures at Gazipur entry point from northern region

Restrictions have been imposed in seven districts surrounding Dhaka, including Gazipur, to keep the capital isolated from the rest of the country for nine days in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.

As a result, communication has been snapped between Gazipur and several other areas including the northern region.

Police on Tuesday set up check post at various points on the highway to enforce the restrictions. No vehicle including public transport is being allowed to operate.

Highway and local police stations have set up set up check posts in Chandra Trimore area of Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila to intercept the movement of vehicles. Chandra Trimore area is the district’s entry point from the northern region.

Police were turning back the vehicles, causing misery to office goers. Later some of them then started walking and took rickshaws to their destinations.

Ashraful Islam, a production officer at an apparel factory in Chandra Trimore area, spoke to Prothom Alo around 9:30am on Tuesday. He said he works at a factory in Ashulia. He travels by bus every day to go to office. Since he couldn’t find any vehicle today, he had to take a rickshaw.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Konabari highway police station Mir Golam Faruque several vehicles were stranded on the road due to traffic jam and these vehicles were allowed to leave in the early hours. But, no vehicle is being allowed to move now. Even no locally-operated vehicle has been running since the morning. If anybody comes out, they are being barred to move, he added.

Officer-in-charge of Mawna highway police station said no vehicle coming from Mymensingh is being allowed entry to Gazipur and no body is allowed to leave the district. Police check posts have been set up on the highway, he added.

Gazipur’s deputy commissioner SM Tarikul Islam said a lockdown has been imposed in Gazipur as per the government’s decision.