After a gap of nearly five months, tourist places in Bangladesh finally reopened on Thursday. The move comes days after the Bangladesh government had eased Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the movement of public transport services. However, people will not be allowed to enter the tourist spots without face masks and everyone will have to follow all Covid-safety protocols, as per a government order. Read:Bangladesh allows resumption of all public transport services from Aug 19 In Rangamati, locals heaved a sigh of relief as they got the opportunity to restart their livelihoods with the reopening of hotels, motels, restaurants and tourist spots in the district. Local people dependent on the tourists said they would be able to overcome the losses caused by the closure. As per an estimate of the Rangamati Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the tour operators suffered a cumulative loss of Tk 2.15 crore. Pre-lockdown, Rangamati Hanging Bridge, Polwell Park, Rangamati Sishu Park, Happy Island, Subolong Fountain, Echo Village and all other tourist sports remained abuzz with tourists the entire year.

To keep the wheels of the economy rolling during the ferocious second wave of the pandemic, the government Thursday allowed the resumption of all public transport services from August 19. All tourist spots, community centres, resorts and recreation facilities can also reopen but with 50% capacity from August 19 and following all Covid-safety protocols, the Cabinet division said in a notification. Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh announces new restriction rules The latest directive will remain in force until further orders, according to the Cabinet division.  Earlier, the government had allowed only half of the public transport vehicles to ply on the roads, following all health protocols. Moreover, it was silent on the reopening of the tourist spots and community centres. According to the latest notification, all modes of public transport, including those of road, river and railways can restart operations following all health protocols. Use of masks and social distancing will be mandatory everywhere. And legal action will be taken against violators, be it individuals or organisations, according to the government.       The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard.   Bangladesh was put under the “strict” lockdown on July 23 barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons. Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown, but Delta variant ready to hit freedom Scheduled to end on August 5, it was later extended to August 10.

Life is returning to normal in national capital Dhaka, with the Bangladeshi government easing the Covid lockdown curbs from Wednesday. Almost all factories, offices, shopping malls and standalone outlets reopened in Dhaka this morning, strictly adhering to all Covid-safety protocols. Read: Lockdown breaches: 198 arrested in Dhaka on the last day Public transport services also resumed operations in the morning. Several city buses were seen plying on a number of busy stretches and ferrying passengers with 50 percent of their seating capacity. Such was the morning rush that several areas of the city witnessed traffic snarls, giving commuters a harrowing time on the roads. However, the inter-district buses entering or exiting the city were fewer than pre-Covid days. Besides, train and launch services also resumed services across the country, keeping 50 percent of the seats empty. Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “Traffic jams in some areas were due to the rise in the number of vehicles on the roads." Commuters experienced snarls between 8 am and 10.30 am in different areas of the city -- Technical point, Mirpur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, Banani, Amtoli and Mohakhali intersection to name a few, Abu added.

The government has allowed the movement of all public transport services till Sunday 12pm to help the export-oriented factory workers and officials to return to their workplaces. Bus, launch and train services will be operational in all routes across the country during this time. The development was confirmed by the Press Information Department Saturday amid a strict lockdown which will continue till August 5. Read: No decision yet on lockdown extension: Farhad Also, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) "allowed all water transport to operate from Saturday evening to Sunday 12pm to transport factory workers." The decisions came a day after the government allowed export-oriented factories to restart production from tomorrow amid the ongoing lockdown. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Despite the suspension of public transports, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka through alternative means on the ninth day of the lockdown Saturday. A record surge in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown, suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.

Public transport services resumed in Bangladesh on Thursday, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha. A reality check by UNB in Dhaka revealed that several buses left their depots in the morning and were plying on several busy stretches of the national capital -- Mirpur Road, Uttara, Banani, New Market and Mohakhali areas to name a few. Buses -- both intra-city and inter-district -- were, however, seen carrying passengers with 50 percent of their seating capacity. But such was the morning rush that several areas of the city witnessed traffic snarls, giving commuters a harrowing time on the roads. Read:Public transports go off streets, malls shut as ’ strict lockdown’ begins in Bangladesh Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh, joint commissioner (traffic north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “Due to the strict lockdown, many people couldn't step out of their houses. As soon as the lockdown restrictions were eased, people took full advantage of the same." "However, police and other law enforcement agencies are keeping a strict vigil on the roads to ensure strict adherence to all Covid-safety protocols," he added. A number of inter-district buses entering and exiting the city also contributed to the traffic jams. Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain said, “A huge pressure of vehicles has been seen since morning as all vehicles have started plying on the roads.” Besides, train and launch services also resumed operations across the country, keeping 50 percent of the seats empty, apparently to facilitate the movement of people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. On July 12, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon said that the train tickets will be available online only to avoid any rush at the counters. On June 22, authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts. However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification. Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. In a notification on Tuesday morning, the Cabinet Division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23. However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.

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.

In line with the extended general holidays, public transport services will also remain suspended across the country until May 5 in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus that has taken a dangerous turn in the country.

Public transport services will remain suspended until April 25 in line with the extended general holidays.   The government took the decision to prevent the further transmission of novel coronavirus in the country, a handout from Roads and Highways Division said on Saturday.   However, important services, including food supplies, daily commodities, fuel, medicines, transport-related to medicines, agriculture goods, fertilisers, fisheries, animal and livestock, baby foods, and essential items will continue as usual.   The government declared general holidays from March 26 and suspended mass transport to tackle coronavirus outbreak. It shut down educational institutions, banned gatherings, imposed a restriction on movement and urged people to stay indoors to help the country fight the deadly virus.