The government has prepared an initial list of red zones across the country, but is yet to take a decision on when the lockdowns will be implemented.
According to the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, 45 areas in Dhaka north and South city corporations have been designated as red zones, so far.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said they will let know soon which of these areas will be locked down.
Sources at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said they have gotten an initial list of the areas. The DGHS is fine tuning the list and a public circular will be issued soon.
“The areas are marked on a broad scale. We will need to specify the smaller areas. That will take time and the number of areas may change,” said an official, who did not want to be named.
At the district level, deputy commissioners, civil surgeons and superintendents of police will specify areas where lockdowns will be imposed.
According to an NTAC source, the 17 initial red zones of Dhaka North City Corporation are-- Gulshan, Badda, Cantonment, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Rampura, Aftabnagar, Mohammadpur, Kallayanpur, Mogbazar, Airport, Banasree, Rajabazar, Uttara, Mirpur, Basundhara Residential Area and Rayerbazar.
The 28 red zones under Dhaka South City Corporation are--Jatrabari, Demra, Mugda, Gendaria, Dhanmondi, Jigatola, Lalbagh, Azimpur, Basabo, Shantinagar, Paltan, Kolabagan, Ramna, Sutrapur, Malibag, Kotowali, Tikatuli, Mitford, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel, Wari, Khilgaon, Paribagh, Kadamtali, Siddheswari, Lakshmi Bazar, Elephant Road and Segunbagicha.
Chittagong City Corporation has eleven areas in the red zone list.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said he had been informed about the 17 areas in DNCC, but the areas are yet to be specified.
“It can be some portions of the areas or a whole area under the zone, based on the number of Covid-19 positive cases,” he added.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said: “It will take some time to start the lockdowns. The local administration will take necessary preparations and can then start lockdowns.”
However, he declined to give a specific time-frame.
When asked on whether it will begin from June 15, he said it is not possible to say as it depends on local administrations and when they can prepare themselves.