Use of masks in many markets and shopping malls in the capital and elsewhere in the country is largely ignored by shoppers and shop owners while COVID-19 cases as well as positivity rate is on the rise again.

Amid the reality, the government started mobile court drives to ensure masks considering second wave of coronavirus.

Dhaka district additional deputy commissioner (general) Md Momin Uddin said that mobile courts led by 15 executive magistrates realised Tk 33,300 in fine from 100 people at different upazilas in the district and in the capital’s densely populated areas, including areas around the court and the secretariat, Matijheel, Hatirjheel and Azampur of Uttara.

He said that the mobile courts also created awareness about the use of masks with public announcement systems and distributed 1,600 face masks among the poor.

He said that the district administration had strengthened operation of mobile courts in Dhaka city and different upazilas of the district on Tuesday to make people aware once again about the mandatory use of face masks to check the possible second wave of coronavirus infections in the country.

Our correspondent in Khagrachhari, quoting the district administration’s executive magistrate Md Sazzad Hossain, reported that mobile courts in the district town and nine other upazilas realized Tk 27,660 in fine from 189 people for not wearing masks.

People in public places, including markets, shops, public transport and roads, still ignore mandatory mask use.

Shop owners and shop assistants said that they feel suffocated in masks as they were not habituated to it while others ignored it as the panic over the outbreak has subsided.

Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity secretary general Md Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan admitted that people are not using masks in markets and shopping malls and said that they requested the shop owners to maintain it strictly.

He said that they were going to hold a massive campaign on November 18 to increase public awareness and would distribute masks among shoppers as well as customers.

‘It is not a matter of money, rather a matter of habit,’ he said.

He also urged the prime minister for more subsidies for traders as the second wave of coronavirus has now started.

Though the government has taken ‘no mask no service’ policy, its implementation remains a far cry.  

Abul Hasan Chunno, a crockery businessman at New Market in the capital said that he would not bother about coronavirus anymore as it sounds like a rumour to him.

He further said that he use masks sometimes to avoid inhaling dust.

Traders of the markets said that there was no mandatory directive from the market authority for wearing masks but they were aware about the government directives.

Though the prices of masks have decreased and they are more available than ever, some has their own rationale for not wearing them.

‘I believe in Allah. Since death is ordained by Allah, nothing, even masks, can save you,’ said Alhaj Mohammad Ali, a businessman at Moulavibazar of Chakbazar in the capital.

‘I am not using masks, it cannot save people from diseases,’ he added.

Markets at Gulshan, Panthapath, Elephant Road, Malibagh, Gulistan, Chawk Bazar, Islampur, Naya Bazar  Nawabpur in the capital, same scenario was found. A significant number of shop owners as well as customers were not using masks.

Trade body leaders said that the scenario was more or less the same in other districts where an indifference to maintain the public health guidelines is apparent among people in markets, on roads as well as in public transport.