Taking Covid jabs has been made mandatory for public movement from Aug. 11, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque said on Tuesday urging people to get vaccinated to avoid punishment. The minister said this while talking to reporters about the government decision of extending the ongoing lockdown till August 10. He said, “It has been made mandatory to take Covid jabs for public movement from August 11. Read: BMRC clears Indian Covaxin’s clinical trials in Bangladesh Any movement without being vaccinated would be considered a punishable offense.” As per the government decision of reopening workplaces, local shops, factories and retail outlets along with public transports from August 11, people who didn’t get Covid jabs yet were instructed to get vaccinated within the remaining days of extended lockdown. Read: Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM The government is set to launch a nationwide mass vaccination drive from 14,000 vaccine centres from August 7 aimed at giving shots to one crore people in one week. Once vaccinated, the certificate will be available to download on the website and it will work as the movement pass for people, he said. The minister warned further that anyone over the age of 18 without a vaccine found on the street after the lockdown ends will face punishment.

Police arrested 562 people for being out there on the streets violating restrictions even as the capital city saw an increased number of private cars and public movement on the 6th day of the 14-day lockdown on Wednesday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,61,130 as fines from  208 people. During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,13,0000 as penalties from 489 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Despite the measures taken by the authorities, people continue to venture out with families and friends in the capital defying the lockdown rules even though the Covid outbreak has turned vicious in the country. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka There was nothing different on Wednesday as people were seen roaming without emergency reasons with private cars and rickshaws plying everywhere. Dhaka wore almost a normal look with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Only the movement of public transport remained suspended as per the government restrictions.

The number of vehicles and people increased on the city streets on Tuesday, the sixth day of the 14-day strict lockdown, defying government’s directives to stay home amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 pandemic, police said. Even though movement of people was relatively low on the main roads, crowds gathered in the alleyways and kitchen markets, many of them disregarding the health rules of wearing masks and maintaining physical distance. However, police, Rab, and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen checking movement of people and vehicles in different points of the city including Mirpur Technical intersection and Kalabagan areas. Read:Fifth day of lockdown: More people, vehicles on roads, 509 arrested Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaman (Mohakhali), said “The number of vehicles is higher than Monday as many offices dealing with emergency services remained open.” A number of people have been detained by law enforcers today as they failed to show valid reasons. Besides, more cases were also filed for flouting lockdown curbs. A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to go for the tough measure.

After the end of a 14-day lockdown in Chapainawabganj district, the local administration has imposed some restrictions on public movement to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission. Deputy Commissioner of Chapainawabganj Manjurul Hafiz came up with the announcement  at a press briefing held at the conference room of the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday evening. Read: Five Covid patients die in Chapainawabganj, over 100 test positive The new restrictions will remain in force till June 16. The local administration has taken the decision considering the overall situation of Covid-19, mango growers and traders’ interest and development works of the district. The restrictions are- all shops, shopping malls will remain open from 9 am till 5 pm but the haat-bazaars will remain closed. Inter-district transport services will also remain suspended but only vehicles carrying mangoes are allowed to move. Read: Lockdown in Chapainawabganj extended for another week However, public transport will be allowed to ply inside the district with half capacities following health guidelines. All kinds of public gatherings, political, social and religious programmes will be suspended during this period. Juma prayers can be offered at mosques  with 20 devotees maintaining  health safety protocols. Read: Variation between PCR and antigen test positivity rates hides true situation of Covid-19 in Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon Dr. Zahid Nazrul Chowdhury, Superintendent of Chapainawabganj Police AHM Abdur Rakib, Additional deputy commissioner (Tax) Zakiul Islam were present at the meeting. Following the surge in Covid-19 infections, the local administration imposed a lockdown in two phases from May 25 which ended on June 7 midnight.  

Amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in the frontier districts of the country, the local administration in Kushtia has imposed strict restrictions on public movement. The local administration has issued a circular asking people to complete their necessary works from 10 am to 8 pm every day in order to prevent transmission of Covid-19, said deputy commissioner Mohammad Saidul Islam. Read:Two Indian returnees tested positive for Covid in Kushtia The restrictions came into effect from Sunday midnight and will continue till June 16. According to the circular, all shops and markets will remain open from 10 am till 8 pm following health guidelines. Legal action will be taken if anyone violates  the order. All hotels, restaurants, kitchen markets, shops will be closed at 8 pm. The restaurants and hotels can supply food through online service and no one will be allowed to dine in at hotels and restaurants. All kinds of tourist spots, resorts, community centres and entertainment centres will remain closed during this period. Read:Kushtia woman dies of Covid in India No one will be allowed to hold public gatherings, social events, political and religious programmes. According to the District Covid-19 prevention  Committee, the Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the district as the infection rate has stood at 24.13 percent till Sunday. The Health authorities said 56 people have been found infected with the virus in the past 24 hours till Monday morning after testing 181 samples. Besides, 227 people have been tested positive for coronavirus in a six days till June 6 in the district with 30 percent infection rate. Read:Bangladesh’s frontier districts brace for Covid ‘catastrophe’: Experts A total of 5,205 people have so far been tested positive for coronavirus in the district and of them 3,157 are from Sadar upazila. So far, 119 people have died of Covid-19 in the district.