The ongoing lockdown will continue until May 16 while the intra-district public transport services will be allowed to resume from May 6.
The decision was taken on Monday at the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Prime Minister virtually joined the meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Also Read: Covid surge in Bangladesh: Experts say lockdown likely to pay off
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the local administration will conduct massive drives in the markets and shopping malls of their respective areas to ensure the strict enforcement of health guidelines.
"If there’s any deviation in following the protocols, the respective markets will be closed, if necessary," he said.
Earlier, on April 28, the government has issued six fresh directives imposing restrictions on people’s movement alongside the existing ones as the country is struggling to contain the Coviid-19 transmission.
The Cabinet Division issued the notification extending the ongoing lockdown from April 28 to May 5.
Shops and shopping malls will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm ensuring health guidelines, the notification said.
Commerce Ministry, Labour and Employment Ministry, trade organisations and bazaar managing committees will take effective measures in this regard. Legal action will be taken against those to be found violating the directives.
According to the directives, no one will be allowed to enter the country through land, river and air routes from India other than goods-laden vehicles.
Also Read: Relaxed lockdown taken as license to ignore social distancing
Besides, the Bangladeshi people, who are now in India and their visas have expired, can only enter the country after taking a release/certificate from the Bangladesh High Commissioner in India. In that case, they will have to follow a 14-day quarantine rule and the Health Services Division, Public Safety Division, Security Services Division, Shipping Ministry and deputy commissioner concerned will take necessary measures in this regard.
Those coming from the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia and China with non-Covid-19 and vaccination certificates will have to follow a 14-day quarantine rule at their respective homes. In this case, they will have to contact local police stations about their arrival and quarantine period.
But those who have only have non-Covid-19 certificates and returned from those countries mentioned above have to stay in the government facilitated institutions, and within 3-5 days, if the physicians allowed them to go to their respective houses after the test, will have to go for a 14-day quarantine at their homes.
The people who come from other countries will have to stay in government facilitated institutions for 14 days.
The notification said the Religious Affairs Ministry will take decisions about the Eid-ul-Fitr congregations.
The government has decided to extend the current lockdown by another week until May 5 as there is no improvement in sight in the Covid-19 situation, said State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on April 26.
The decision has been taken considering the global Covid situation and the suggestions of health experts, said the state minister.
A circular was issued on April 20 extending the ongoing strict lockdown by a week from April 22, aiming to curb the transmission of Covid-19.
As coronavirus cases continued to rise alarmingly since mid-March, the government imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21.
On April 23, the Cabinet Division issued a notice allowing shops and shopping malls to operate from April 25 (10am-5pm) on the condition that they would maintain proper safety protocols.