The government is going to enforce a “strict lockdown” on a limited scale from Monday as the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus is spreading fast in the country.
The Cabinet Division issued a circular in this regard on Sunday.
The lockdown will remain in force from 6 am on June 28 to 6am on July 1, the circular said.
It said the movement of all modes of public vehicles except goods-laden ones and rickshaws will go under the restriction and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure it through regular patrolling.
All shopping malls, markets, recreation centres, resorts, community centers, tourist spots will remain shut during the lockdown.
Hotels and restaurants will remain open from 8am to 8pm with online/takeway services.
Government and private offices will run with only necessary staff and they will arrange transport services for office staff.
A greater campaign will be launched to ensure use of masks while legal action will be taken, if needed, said the circular added.
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The government is set to enforce an all-out lockdown from July 1 to bring the Covid situation under control.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, on Saturday evening.
The repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social life.
However, experts hope that stricter rules will bring positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control.
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
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Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind the current Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee.
It used the example of India to emphasise that no step other than a "complete shutdown" might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Bangladesh crossed 14,000 on Saturday as health authorities reported 77 fresh deaths.
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Besides, the daily caseload fell sharply, with 4,334 new cases pushing up the total caseload to 8,83,138. On Friday, health authorities reported 5,869 new cases.