The government has announced a strict lockdown to prevent coronavirus infections. On April 14 today, the all-out lockdown started from 6 am and will continue till midnight on April 21. A notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division last Monday.
All types of institutions except emergency services will be closed at this time. If you want to get out of the house for any work, you need a police issued ‘movement pass’. Besides, banking services are open to industries on a limited range.
On the first day of the lockdown, it was seen that the police are in a strict position at various points of the capital. They are interrogating those who have come out by setting up check posts. No one is allowed to go out on the streets without an ID card and movement pass for emergency services. Most areas and roads have been found to be quite uninhabited. Anyone who left without a movement pass is being sent back.
Lockdown restrictions are:
* All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices / financial institutions will be closed and all officers and employees will be in their respective workplaces. However, air, sea, naval and land ports and related offices will be excluded from the scope of the ban.
* Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue necessary directions to the courts.
* All modes of transport (road, sea, rail, extreme, international flights) will be closed. However, this order will not apply to the transportation of goods, production systems and emergency services.
* Industries will continue to operate under their own management following health rules. However, it is necessary to ensure that the workers are brought under the management of their own transport by their respective organizations.
* Law and order and emergency services, such as agricultural inputs, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery, etc.), transportation of food grains and foodstuffs, relief distribution, health services, Covid-19 vaccination, electricity, water, gas / fuel, fire services, ports (Land ports, river ports and seaports) activities, telephone and internet (public-private), media (print and electronic media), private security, offices related to other essential and essential goods and services including postal services, their employees and vehicles are covered by this prohibition will be excluded.
* You cannot go out of the house in any way except for urgent needs (purchase of medicines and daily necessities, medical services, corpses, Darussalam, etc.). However, you can travel to get the vaccine by showing the vaccination card.
* Food shops and hotels-restaurants can only sell and supply food (Tukcnway / Online) from 12 noon to 6 pm and from 12 noon to 6 am. Shopping malls and other shops will remain closed.
* Raw market, daily necessities will be sold in open space from 9 am to 3 pm in accordance with hygiene rules. The market authority will confirm the matter to the local administration.
* Boro will coordinate the transportation of agricultural workers in case of emergency.
* Sports and field administrations across the country will take effective steps to implement the guidelines and law enforcement will intensify regular patrols.
* The Director General of the Directorate of Health will empower the district administration and the police department to take legal action on his behalf.
* The Ministry of Religious Affairs will issue instructions regarding the gathering of Juma and Tarabi prayers following the hygiene rules; and the concerned Ministry / Division will issue supplementary instructions as required for the purpose of implementing the appropriate instructions.