A record surge in fresh Covid-19 infection in the country has forced the authorities concerned to close Bangladesh National Zoo in the capital’s Mirpur and Rangpur Zoo on Friday. They will remain closed for visitors until further order, according to a decision taken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Fisheries Minister SM Rezaul Karim sought cooperation from all concerned parties in this regard, said a handout of his ministry. "We’ve decided to keep the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo, which are under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, closed from today (Friday, April 2) until further notice so that the coronavirus infection does not increase due to the gatherings of visitors," he said. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day The government is taking all possible steps to prevent the spread of the virus, said the Minister. Bangladesh recorded more than 6,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Friday. It was the fourth time in five days that the country reported its highest daily case count. The health authorities confirmed 6,830 new infections in the afternoon. The infection rate rose to 23.28 percent from 22.94 on Thursday when the country recorded 6,469 cases, the highest since the beginning of the virus outbreak in the country in March last year. Noting that the Prime Minister's Office has already issued an 18-point directive, Minister Karim urged the people to follow the directives of the government. Also read: Fighting the Second Wave: Govt seeks stricter implementation of PMO directives On March 20, 2020 the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock closed down the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo for the first time amid the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent transmission of the virus. Later, the National Zoo was reopened for the visitors on some conditions on November 1, 2020 considering the entertainment issue, physical and mental well-being of the Dhaka city dwellers as well as the government’s revenue loss, said the handout. The PMO on March 29 issued the 18-point directives for the next two weeks in an effort to restrict the spread of coronavirus in the country. Also read: National Zoo to reopen from Nov 1 The directives mostly are related to restriction on public gatherings, using masks, ensuring 14-day quarantine rule and maintaining other Covid-19 health protocols. All the ministries, divisions, departments and agencies concerned were asked to take necessary measures to implement the directives.

After around seven months of closure due to coronavirus pandemic , the National Zoo at Mirpur is going to be reopened for the visitors from November 1.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Thursday said that fisheries is an important sector as fish export would make extensive contribution in the economy.