All shopping malls and shops will remain open till 10 pm instead of 8 pm from July 1 to 10 ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. A notification was issued in this regard by the Labour and Employment Ministry on Wednesday. On Sunday, State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian said shops, shopping malls and markets across the country will close after 8 pm from June 20 as per Prime Minister’s instruction to save on electricity and energy. Read: Shops, markets to closed by 8 pm from Monday: State Minister The traders and the businesspeople demand that shops and markets be allowed to do business until 10 pm from July 1 to July 10 for the sake of business ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Monnujan said they would send this proposal in the form of summary to the Prime Minister's Office. On June 16, a letter signed by the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office (Administration) Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, said that the PM instructed the new timing for shops to save electricity amid rising energy prices worldwide.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday alleged that the ruling party men are indulging in extortion in all markets and shopping malls across the country, including Dhaka, with the backing of the government. "The New Market incident ensued because of the extortion of those who rule this country and the thugs of the illegitimate government," he said. Also read: Dhaka north BNP’s 620 units form committees Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said, “Who are extorting money from all the markets across Bangladesh, including Dhaka city? Those who belong to the ruling party and its associate bodies are extorting money with the backing of the government.” BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of arrested party leader Makbul Hossain and withdrawal of ‘false cases’ filed by police in connection with the bloody clashes in the city’s New Market area. At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles last week. Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Five cases were filed in connection with the violence while police arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in this connection. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member said the ruling party-backed extortionists are responsible for the violence in the New Market area that claimed the lives of two people. “The shopkeepers of New Market put up a resistance against extortion while the cadres wearing helmets killed people to suppress this resistance. It’s now people's question as to why no case is filed against them (ruling party men). But our leader Makbul was arrested and put on remand as he has an only fault that he owns a shop in New Market,” he said. Also read: AL’s character to blame BNP for its own misdeeds: Mirza Fakhrul The BNP leader demanded the government immediately arrest the real perpetrators and put them on trial. He called upon the government to release BNP leader Makbul Hossain and withdraw the false cases filed against their party leaders and activists. Mentioning that Bangladesh is now under ‘misrule’ of the Awami League government, Mosharraf said ousting the current ‘usurper’ government is the only option to get rid of it. "The fascist and despotic government of Sheikh Hasina must quit power. We all have to take to the streets in a greater way to make it happen."

Public transports went off streets and shopping malls remained shut in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh as the government has enforced a strict lockdown ‘on a limited scale’ from Monday in an effort to bring the Covid situation under control. The alarming surge in Covid cases and deaths caused by highly transmittable Delta variant prompted the government to announce the 3-day lockdown ahead of an all out lockdown from July 1. Read:Auto-rickshaw, light vehicles workers demand food, cash support amid 'lockdown' Rickshaws and private vehicles were seen dominating the Dhaka streets on the first day of the lockdown. People including office-goers were seen waiting on roads  for a long time for rickshaws or motorbikes to reach their destinations. Traffic police at different points are stopping vehicles and quizzing drivers and passengers, said traffic inspector of DMP Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali).  The Cabinet Division issued a circular over the fresh lockdown on Sunday. The lockdown will remain in force from 6 am on June 28 to 6am on  July 1, it said. Movement of all modes of public transport except goods-laden vehicles and rickshaws will remain restricted and the members of law enforcement agencies will ensure it through regular patrolling, it said. All shopping malls, markets, recreation centres, resorts, community centers, tourist spots will remain shut. Read: Bangladesh ready to go into ‘strict lockdown’ from Monday Hotels and restaurants will remain open from 8am to 8pm with  online/takeway service. Government and private offices will run with only necessary staff and they will arrange transport for office staff. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair 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. A total of 119 people died in Bangladesh in 24 hours until Sunday morning, the biggest figure since the pandemic hit the country. Read:No lockdown for health sector: Minister During the period, 5,268 more people came out positive with Covid-19 in 24,400 sample tests, said a handout issued by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The country’s daily positivity rate fell to 21.59% Sunday from Saturday’s 22.50%.

Voicing concerns over huge crowds at shopping malls violating health safety rules, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday warned that the coronavirus transmission may spike again if this trend continues till Eid-ul-Fitr. “The government has allowed reopening shops and shopping malls on the occasion of eid, but the crowds we’re seeing there will surely contribute to the virus surge again,” he said. The minister said, “What if you don’t buy clothes for an Eid? The government has reopened markets, but it’s up to us whether to go or not there. Many women go shopping with children without wearing masks.  Though we’ve given various instructions in this regard, people aren’t maintaining the health safety rules accordingly.” Speaking at a virtual discussion arranged by Bangladesh Private Medical College Association, he said people must cooperate with the government in containing the virus by maintaining health safety rules, physical distancing and wearing masks. Describing lockdown as the most effective way of controlling coronavirus transmission, he said the ongoing lockdown has helped reduce the coronavirus infections and death rates in the country. “But lockdown is not a long-term solution as it affects the economy and the livelihoods of people.” Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 41 deaths in 24 hours, lowest in 39 days The minister said the government resumed bus services in the capital and districts due to pressure from various quarters. Zahid Maleque said the coronavirus infection came under control early this year, but the second wave of the virus has created due to people’s reckless attitude, travelling spree, mass gathering, and apathy to the health safety rules. “We forget the past and didn’t take a lesson from it. We should keep in mind how people are suffering and dying due to the oxygen crisis in India. So, we should keep our country well by following the health safety guidelines,” he said.

Shops and shopping malls will be allowed to remain open from 10am to 9pm instead of earlier-announced 5pm amid the lockdown enforced by the government to contain the transmission of Covid-19.  Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shariful Islam confirmed the matter. Earlier on April 23, Cabinet Division issued a notice permitting shops and malls to reopen from April 25 maintaining proper safety protocols. Also read: Pandemic in Bangladesh: Shops, malls reopen doors The second phase of lockdown started on April 22 and is supposed to continue until April 28.  Earlier on April 5, public transports, shops and shopping malls were directed to remain shut in capital Dhaka as the country started a 7-day lockdown. Talking to UNB, local and international health experts, however, predicted Bangladesh is unlikely to see any improvement in the Covid-19 situation before June next as the country is still in the grip of its second wave. Also read: 'Strict’ lockdown again if health rules violated: Quader Using a mathematical model, Bangladesh Como Modelling Group, a group of experts from both Bangladesh and Oxford University, also projected that the country will witness the similar infection rate intermittently till the end of May while the situation may improve in June. Meanwhile, after a slight fall for several days, Bangladesh’s daily coronavirus death toll crossed the 100-mark again on Sunday with a sharp fall in new cases. Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily deaths shoot past 100; new cases fall dramatically Fatalities climbed to 11,053 with 101 deaths in the past 24 hours until the morning. The virus also infected 2,922 people, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout. Bangladesh has so far confirmed 745,322 coronavirus cases.

The number of private vehicles, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws marked a significant rise on the roads in the capital on Sunday as the government allowed shops and shopping malls to reopen their doors to shoppers on a limited scale. The pressure of vehicles on the city streets was reported from areas like Mirpur, Gabtoli, Shyamoli, Uttara and Mohakhali amid the lockdown, which has been extended by another week to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation. In a circular on Friday, the government allowed the shops and shopping malls to remain open from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday, prompting many people to return to the capital city. People were seen entering the capital on foot through Babu Bazar, Amin Bazar Bridge and Tongi Bridge areas. Although the movement of rickshaws on the main roads were relatively lower in the morning than the other days, those were found moving in backstreets. However, no public transport and other city services were seen on the city streets. The owners and workers of shops, markets and shopping malls were seen busy reopening their doors since 9 am. Read Extension of lockdown causing anxiety among low income earners  While talking to UNB at Rajlaxmi in Uttara, traffic inspector Akhter Hossain said: “The pressure of vehicles is increasing. But such pressure was not there during the last few days since the enforcement of the strict lockdown on April 14. This is happening following the government’s decision to allow shops and shopping malls to reopen.” However, the movement of rickshaws was comparatively thinner than the other days, he added. Another traffic inspector, Asaduzzaman, said: “There has been huge traffic in Mohakhali area since morning and our colleagues (fellow police officers) were asking the public for movement pass at designated check posts.” Strict lockdown in place since April 14 A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for an eight-day complete lockdown from April 14. The cabinet division issued a notification in this regard on April 12. Later, following the shattering situation of Covid-19 cases, the government extended the ongoing lockdown by another week from April 22 to bring the situation under control. A circular was issued on April 20 extending the ongoing strict lockdown for another week from April 22, aiming to curb the transmission of Covid-19. Also read: Govt issues circular extending lockdown until April 28 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. Reopening shops and shopping malls 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. The shops and malls are permitted to reopen from April 25 subject to maintaining proper safety protocols, says the notice signed by Deputy Secretary Md Rezaul Islam. Shops and shopping malls were shut from April 5 with a spurt in covid cases and deaths. But the shopkeepers and traders waged street protests demanding the reopening of businesses. They argued that they had suffered massive losses last year during the lockdown. Eid-ul-Fitr is generally the busiest time for businesses but last year’s Eid was celebrated amid the covid outbreak. Businesses had suffered huge losses. Public transport to resume On Saturday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government is working on a plan to allow the public transport to resume operations once the current lockdown is over. On March 29, the government raised the fares of all buses, including inter-district ones, by 60% as the vehicles are allowed to carry only half passengers of the total seats to ensure social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 situation Bangladesh recorded 83 more Covid-related deaths in 24 hours until Saturday morning, raising the total fatalities to 10,952. Coronavirus fatalities crossed 10,000 on April 15 and the death tally came close to 11,000 within 10 days as the country finds it hard to deal with the pandemic.

Shops and shopping malls will be allowed to remain open from 10 am to 5 pm from April 25 amid the lockdown enforced by the government to contain the Coronavirus transmission.   The Cabinet Division issued a notice in this regard on Friday.   The shops and malls are permitted to reopen from April 25 subject to maintaining proper safety protocols, says the notice signed by Deputy Secretary Md Rezaul Islam.   The second phase of lockdown started on April 22 is supposed to continue until April 28.   Earlier on April 5, public transports, shops and shopping malls were directed to remain shut in capital Dhaka as the country started a 7-day lockdown. Also read: Lockdown: Pvt cars rise on Dhaka roads Talking to UNB, local and international health experts, however, predicted Bangladesh is unlikely to see any improvement in the Covid-19 situation before June next as the country is still in the grip of its second wave.

Three days after reopening, the local administration closed down all the shopping malls and business establishments in Manikganj from Wednesday as part of fight against coronavirus transmission.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday asked city dwellers to complete their Eid shopping from markets located within two kilometres of their respective areas while maintaining government declared timetable and hygiene.   Besides, rickshaws and autorickshaws will be available in a limited number for travelling to and from shopping malls. However, more than two passengers are discouraged to travel in autorickshaws. Every passenger and driver will wear masks.