Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said public transport may be allowed in a limited number after April 9.
She said this while addressing a video conference with government officials of 64 districts on Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina joined the conference from her Ganabhaban residence.
The prime minister said the general holidays may be extended till April 9, to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
She also urged all to celebrate Pohela Boishakh, first day of the Bangla month Boishakh, digitally.
On March 23, the government declared general holidays from March 26 to April 4.
On March 26, Bangladesh imposed a travel ban on all modes of transport – rail, road, air, and waterways, except for emergencies – across the country to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
The country’s Road Transport Act considers any motorized vehicle transporting paying customers as public transport.
Therefore, all commercial passenger vehicles such as buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, and other human haulers (such as Nasimon, Korimon) fall under the purview of the restriction. People can only move around using rickshaws as per the act.
At the same time, additional passengers will also not be allowed to commute on trucks or other goods-laden vehicles on the road during the period.
However, trucks and covered vans carrying medicines, emergency services, fuel, and perishable goods, are exempt from the travel ban.
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus affected persons in the country is now 49.
The IEDCR so far tested 1,338 samples while in the last 24 hours it tested 153 samples and found one positive case.
Meanwhile, four more patients have recovered. Three of them are above 60 while the newly infected patient is a female aged around 20.
Nineteen coronavirus patients have recovered till date.
Thirty-six people have been released from institutional quarantine in the past 24 hours and 32 are still quarantined. Sixty-two people are in isolation.
