A circular was issued by the health ministry in the afternoon.

Bangladesh has been recording a high number of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, even after the number of tests had gone down.

The country now has more than 200,000 officially confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths.

Health experts suggest strictly maintaining hygiene rules and wearing masks as effective ways to stop the highly contagious virus from spreading.

The government order came only days before Muslims are scheduled to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha.

The number of coronavirus cases and deaths has been rising in recent weeks. UNB file photo

The circular said it is mandatory for everyone to wear masks while visiting public and private hospitals which hospital authorities will ensure.

The use of masks must be ensured at educational institutions, mosques, temples, and churches. The local administrations and the concerned steering committees have been ordered to monitor it.

Buyers and sellers at shopping malls, shops, and stores must use masks, the circular said and also the local authorities and the market management committee will ensure the matter.

Similarly, shoppers and sellers at local haats are ordered to wear masks. Buyers and sellers will not be allowed to trade without wearing a mask and the local administrations and the haat-bazaar committees will ensure it.

Drivers, their assistants, and passengers of public transports (road, sea, rail, and air) must use masks and it is mandatory that the passengers wear a mask before boarding the transports. The authorities concerned, law enforcement agencies, and the owners’ associations have been ordered to ensure it.

Workers in all industries, including RMG factories, must use  masks and the authorities concerned and owners will ensure the matter.

The circular further said that the use of masks by all pedestrians, hawkers, rickshaw pullers, and van drivers should be ensured and it will be done  by the law enforcement agencies.

People working in hotels and restaurants must wear masks and the matter needs to be ensured by the local administrations and the owners’ associations concerned. Besides, people attending all kinds of social events need to wear masks.

Healthy members of a family must use masks if there is any patient at home with symptoms of Covid-19, the circular said.