Bangladesh: Tens Of Thousands Of Migrant Workers Flee From Dhaka Ahead Of Nationwide Strict Lockdown Beginning July 1

Tens of thousands of migrant workers fled Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Sunday on the eve of a tightened lockdown that will curtail most economic activity and confine people to their homes as coronavirus infections soar, AFP reported

Bangladesh government announced that it will enforce a nationwide all-out lockdown beginning Thursday (July 1) to check the spread of Covid-19

The strict lockdown decision was attributed to "dangerous and alarming" surge in Delta variant cases of coronavirus.

With 8,364 more Covid-19 cases reported in the 24 hours to today (Jun 28) morning, Bangladesh has recorded its highest single-day caseload only a day after logging the highest number of single-day fatalities.

The previous highest tally of single-day caseload was reported on April 7, with 7,626 people testing positive for the deadly virus. As many as 104 deaths from Covid-19 were reported across the country in the 24-hour period.

"Other than emergency services, all government and private offices will remain closed. No one will be allowed to go out of home without urgent reasons," an official order said.

All kinds of transports, except for those carrying emergency supplies, will remain suspended during the lockdown. However, ambulances and vehicles used for healthcare services and media would be exempted from the curbs.

All government and private offices will remain closed during the lockdown.

The country's army would be called in to assist the police and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troopers to enforce the ‘strict lockdown’.

The lockdown announcement sparked an exodus from Dhaka.

With public intercity transport already suspended since last week, people have squeezed into rickshaws, hopped onto motorbikes and even hired ambulances to make their way to their villages. Many boarded trucks, pick-ups, three-wheelers, human hauliers and rode motorbikes to go back to their village homes, disregarding the health safety rules.

Most of the home-goers were low-income people who feared that they would lose their livelihoods in the city and face starvation if the lockdown continues till the Eid-ul-Azha, leading Bangladesh publication The Daily Star reported