The government has decided to ease the ongoing nationwide lockdown  from Aug. 11 with a few guidelines to follow in different sectors and people’s movement and gatherings. The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard Sunday saying with some restrictions imposed during the lockdown will be lifted following the decision taken in an inter-ministerial meeting held on Aug. 3. From August 11, all the government, private offices and banks will be opened following the health guidelines, said the notification issued on Sunday. It said Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue necessary directives about the courts. Read: Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka Road, railways and river transports will be allowed to carry passengers in full passenger capacity. However, in regard to road transports local administrations (Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners) are allowed to order half of the public transport to move every day after consulting with the relevant authorities and law enforcement forces.

Roads in the capital fell almost silent on Saturday, as law enforcers dissuaded inessential travel on the second day of the reinforced nationwide lockdown. Grappling with rising Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh reimposed strict lockdown restrictions from Friday after an eight-day break for Eid-ul-Azha. The stricter lockdown will continue till August 5 midnight. A reality check by UNB revealed that there were fewer private cars and commercial vehicles on the main roads as compared to Friday. Also read: 403 arrests on day 1 prove lockdown back in earnest

Five Eid jamaats will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque from 7 am on the day of Eid-ul-Azha. Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh revealed the schedule in a press release on Sunday. Read: Local administration to take decision on Eid prayer: Govt The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7am and the next at 8am,9am, 10 am and 10:45 am. Eid-ul-Azha, the 2nd largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on July 21. This year local administrations in consultation with public representatives and local dignitaries will take decision whether  Eid prayers would be held at mosques, Eidghs or open fields considering the Covid situation in their respective areas and maintaining recommended health guidelines. The Religious Affairs Ministry issued some guidelines on offering  Eid-ul-Azha prayer on Tuesday. As per the guidelines, no carpet will be allowed at mosques and mosques will be disinfected before prayers. The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home. Read:Covid lockdown: Govt issues mandatory guidelines for offering prayers at mosques The devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored earlier there. It also suggested devotees to go to mosques with wadu and wash  their hands for 20 seconds with soap. Soaps, hand sanitizers and water should be available at the place where people make Wadu or at the entrance of mosques or Eidgahs. Devotees should maintain social distance following health guidelines. Children, elderly people, people with physical ailment, and those involved in taking care of patients will not be allowed to attend Eid prayer. All have to abide by the directives of the Health Service Division, local administration and law enforcement agencies. Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid Besides, the devotees were requested to shun handshaking and hugging after the Eid prayer which has been a common practice throughout the world. The Religious Affairs Ministry urged Imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday issued mandatory guidelines for offering prayers in congregation at mosques across the country during the seven-day tough lockdown from Thursday.The ministry, which also made wearing masks mandatory, directed the elderly people, children and the sick to abstain from going to mosques, said a notification on Wednesday.Besides, the notification said, each mosque should have enough soap, water and sanitizer to ensure health hygiene.The  ministry urged devotees to perform Sunnah prayers and ablution in their respective residences. READ: Govt lifts restriction on offering prayers at mosques In its guideline, the ministry said, the devotees will have to bring their personal prayer mats as authorities will not be allowed to lay out carpets on mosque floors.Local administrations will take legal action against those who will violate the directives, the notification added.