In an effort to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus and improve the current situation in Bangladesh, the government has issued a notification imposing restrictions on the movement of people and other activities for seven days from Thursday.

The Cabinet Division issued the notification on Wednesday which will remain in force from 6 am on July 1 till 12 am on July 7.

According to the gazette, all the government non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed during the period.

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All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets will also remain closed.

Other lockdown rules

All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social programmes, birthday and picnic parties, political and religious events will remain suspended until further notice.

The Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue a separate notice on operating court activities while the Bangladesh Bank will issue separate directives to ensure banking services.

The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.

However, the restriction will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production.

But the offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.

Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.

Kitchen markets and shops with daily essentials will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm,  and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols.

Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it.

No one will be allowed to go outside except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who are found involved in violating the restrictions.

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Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8 am to  8 pm with takeaway/online services only.

Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing a vaccine card.

International flights will operate during the lockdown and the passengers going abroad can be allowed to move after showing their air tickets.

The Religious Affairs Ministry will issue separate notices on performing prayers in compliance with health guidelines.

The Army will be deployed in aid to the civil administration and the Armed Forces Division will deploy Army. District Magistriates will ensure in coordination  with the local Army Commander.

District and field administrations will take measures to enforce the directives in a coordinated way involving the BGB, police, Rab, Ansar and Army personnel at the district level. 

The ministry and division concerned will provide necessary directives to the field- level administrations.

The Public Administration Ministry will ensure the recruitment of adequate executive magistrates while the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services will take necessary steps to engage law enforcers and local administrations on their behalf.

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Worsening Covid situation

The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is gradually heading towards a grim level, with the country reporting 112 more deaths and 7,666 fresh infections in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.

With the new infections, the country’s positivity rate reached another peak of 23.97% from Monday’s 23.86%, which was recorded at 23.57% last on April 9 this year.

The percentage reached this shocking level after the test of 31,982 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak.

Bangladesh has reported over 100 deaths for the third consecutive day this month.

The country saw a record level of 8,436 Covid cases on Monday and the highest 119 deaths on Sunday since confirming its first cases on March 8 last year.

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With the new numbers, the country’s death toll now stands at 14,388 and the caseload at 904,436.

However, the country’s fatality rate remained static at 1.59% while the recovery rate fell to 89.75% following a continuous drop.