The statewide 14-day severe lockdown began Monday to halt the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which has killed 18,498 individuals and sickened 11,36,503 others across the country.
“Strict lockdown will be enforced throughout the country beginning Friday morning, and it will be stricter than before,” State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said in a press conference on Thursday. The severe curfew will be in effect until August 5th.
According to the state minister, police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and army personnel would be deployed in the field to firmly enforce the lockdown limits throughout the time.
“During the lockdown, offices and export-oriented enterprises, such as Readymade Garment (RMG) factories, will remain closed,” he added.
Due of the holy Eid-ul-Azha celebration, the cabinet division had already lifted the corona limitations for nine days beginning July 14.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a 23-point restriction will be implemented, including the closure of all government, semi-government, autonomous, and private offices, as well as travel restrictions on road, rail, river, and domestic aviation services.
Under the new limits, all types of retail malls and markets, as well as all types of tourism facilities, resorts, community centers, and recreation centers, will be closed.
Even all industries will be closed, and all public gatherings, such as birthdays, picnics, parties, social, political, and religious ceremonies, would be canceled.
The Supreme Court will give the appropriate instructions to the lower courts. Banks, insurance firms, and financial institutions will all release required operating guidelines at the same time.
All government personnel are required to remain at their individual workstations and execute their official tasks on virtual platforms under the new restrictions.
Officials of law enforcement agencies, emergency services such as agricultural products and ingredients, food, food transportation, selling, distribution, health care services, COVID-19 vaccination, NID distributions, revenue-generating activities, power, water, gas, fire services, telephone, internet, mass media, private security system, post, bank, visa-issuing activities, social safety programs, revenue-generating activities, power, water, gas, fire services, telephone, internet, mass media, private security system, post, bank, visa-issuing activities.
Emergency cargo transportations, such as trucks, lorries, covered vans, river vessels, cargo trains, ferries, and all land ports and their surrounding offices, will be exempt from the limitations.
However, following strict health safety requirements, the kitchen markets and daily needs shops will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The matter will be overseen by the kitchen market authorities and the local government.
According to the limitations, “no one is allowed to leave their homes to save in the case of an emergency, such as the procurement of medicines and essentials, health care services, or burial of the deceased.”
From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., food shops, hotels, and restaurants are permitted to sell food on the internet.
International flights will continue to operate, and travellers on international flights will be able to fly by presenting their international travel ticket.
The religious affairs ministry will issue directions for praying in the mosque in accordance with national health standards.
The armed forces division will deploy the appropriate number of personnel to enable effective field patrols in support of the civil administration under army rules. After consulting with the local military commander, the district magistrate will ensure this.
The ministry of public administration will ensure that the requisite number of executive magistrates are appointed at the local level.
Under the infectious disease (prevention, control, and elimination) act 2018, the director-general of the directorate of health services will grant the appropriate legal authority to the district administration and police forces.
