The government is mulling the withdrawal of the ongoing general holiday in the country after the Eid-ul Fitr vacation.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already discussed the matter with high government figures and some senior leaders of her party in this regard.
Top level sources of the governing Awami League confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday.
Initially, the prime minister will extend the public holiday till 25 May and follow it up with instructions on a restoration of normal life in the country if the Covid-19 situation remains stable, according to the sources.
Abdur Rahman, a presidium member of the Awami League, told Dhaka Tribune that the lockdown had to be lifted gradually as some initiatives had already been taken to ease the lockdown.
“I think normal and regular life will be restored after the Eid vacation,” he said.
Faruk Khan, another presidium member of the Awami League said: “We cannot continue this lockdown for a lifetime, it has to end someday.”
He continued: “The government imposed the lockdown for three major reasons. First, itraised awareness among people on how to maintain health guidelines properly to protect themselves from Covid-19. Second, it needed some time to gather resources and increase the capacity to fight the coronavirus. Third, it waited for some medicines to arrive to deal with the virus.”
“I think everything except public transport will be reopened during the Eid vacation and after the vacation the government will be able to restart a full phased normal life again,” the former minister added.
Seeking anonymity, a minister told this correspondent that the authorities had strictly imposed the lockdown in March when coronavirus was first reported in the country.
“Now we cannot impose strict lockdown anymore; we have to ease this situation to balance life and the economy,” he added.
Responding to a question, the minister said if the situation worsened in the coming days, people would lock themselves in on their own to save their lives.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s press wing said the premier would disburse cash aid on Thursday morning from her official residence Ganabhaban.
“On the occasion she will disclose more information about the Covid-19 situation in the country, including the extension of the general holiday, withdrawal of the lockdown and Eid preparations,” an official at the Prime Minister’s Office said.