Gazette notification issuedStrict lockdown from tomorrow

On Wednesday, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification imposing certain rules and regulations for the lockdown.

1. All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices will be closed

2. Road, rail and waterways public transport (including domestic aircraft) and all types of motorized vehicles will be closed

3. All shops including shopping malls or markets will be closed

4. All tourist centres, resorts, community centres and recreation centres will be closed

5. All public gatherings such as social (wedding ceremonies, birthdays, picnics, parties, etc), political and religious ceremonies will be closed

6. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh will issue necessary directions to the courts

7. The Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary instructions to ensure banking services

8. Law enforcement and other emergency services such as agricultural elements (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, equipment etc), crops and transportation, relief distribution, health services, covid-19 vaccination, electricity, water, gas or petroleum, fire service, telephone and internet (government- private), media (print and electronic media), private security systems, post, bank, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals and other emergency and essential products and services related offices, their employees and vehicles can move showing their institutional identity cards

9. Trucks, lorry, covered vans or cargo vessels used for transportation of goods will be exempted from the ban

10. Ports (air, sea, naval and land) and related offices will be exempted from the ban

11. Industries and factories will continue open and be self-managed following health rules

12. Food shops and hotels-restaurants will be open for takeaway or online from 8am to 8 pm

13. Kitchen markets materials and daily necessities can be bought and sold in the open from 9am to 5pm in accordance with hygiene rules. Market authorities or local administration will confirm the matter

14. Except for absolute necessity (medicine and daily essential products, treatment, burial/funeral etc), no one can go outside

15. Movements will be allowed for Covid-19 vaccine candidates upon presenting vaccine card

16. International flights will continue and passengers will be able to travel via car by showing their international travel tickets

17. The Ministry of Religious Affairs will issue instructions regarding prayers in the mosque following hygiene rules

18. Under the "Army in Aid to Civil Power Act", the Armed Forces Division will deploy the required number of troops to ensure effective patrolling at the field level. The district magistrate will confirm the matter in consultation with the local army commander

19. The district magistrate will hold a coordination meeting with the concerned officers at the district level to determine the jurisdiction, method, and time of patrolling of the army, BGB, police, RAB and Ansar

20. The Ministry of Public Administration will ensure the appointment of the required number of Executive Magistrates at the field level

21. The Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will allow the district administration and the police force to take legal action on his behalf

The government on Friday took decision to enforce complete lockdown across the country as per the recommendations of the National Technical Committee on Covid-19.
The national technical committee on Covid-19 suggested a 14-day lockdown but the government has decided to impose lockdown for seven days. Decision of extending lockdown will be taken after analysing the corona situation.

The government on Tuesday also extended the closure of all secondary and higher secondary educational institutions until July 31.

Earlier, the government on June 16 last extended the countrywide ‘so-called’ lockdown for a month until July 15 reopening all government and private offices, autonomous organisations, banks and financial institutions.

On Monday, the closure of the border with India was extended for another 14 days until July 14. The border was first closed on April 26 to check spread of corona transmission

On June 6, the government extended the countrywide lockdown for 10 days until June 16, saying the deputy commissioners of high-risk districts can announce lockdown in their respective areas after discussion with the local representatives and the committees concerned.

Due to a rise in coronavirus cases from mid-March, the government imposed a relaxed lockdown for one week from April 5.

But the government allowed resumption of public transport services in city corporation areas from April 7 as well as reopening of shops and markets for five days from April 9 in the face of protests against the lockdown.

The relaxed lockdown was extended for two more days until April 13. As per the suggestions of health experts, the government enforced a stricter lockdown from April 14 to April 22, which was extended until July 15 in phases.

On May 8 last, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the detection of the Delta variant, which was classified by the World Health Organization as a "variant of global concern", in Bangladesh.