The government is all set to impose a seven-day-long stricter lockdown across Bangladesh from 6am Thursday to tackle the ongoing alarming surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
Strict disciplinary and legal action will be taken if anyone goes out without an emergency during the lockdown, said the official statement issued on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet Division also issued a gazette notification detailing the rules and regulations for the lockdown.
They are as follows:
1. All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices will be closed.
2. Movement of all types of public transport (road, rail, waterways and domestic flights) and motorized vehicles will be suspended.
3. All shops, including shopping malls or markets, will be closed.
4. All tourist spots, resorts, and community and recreation centres will be closed.
5. All public gatherings for social (wedding ceremonies, birthdays, picnics, parties, etc), political and religious events will not be allowed.
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), private security systems, post, bank, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, and other emergency and essential products and services related offices, their employees and vehicles will be allowed to move by showing their institutional identity cards.
9. Trucks, lorry, covered vans or cargo vessels used for transportation of goods will be out of lockdown purview.
10. Ports (air, sea, naval and land) and related offices will be out of lockdown purview.
11. Industries and factories will continue operating and be self-managed following health rules.
12. Eateries, hotels and restaurants will only provide takeaway or online services or home delivery from 8am to 8pm.
13. Kitchen market materials and daily essentials can be bought and sold in the open from 9am to 5pm in line with hygiene rules, which will be ensured by market authorities or local administration.
14. Except for absolute necessity (medicine and daily essentials, medical treatment, burial/funeral etc), no one will be allowed to leave home.
15. Covid-19 vaccine recipients will be allowed to travel by showing their vaccine cards.
16. International flights will continue and passengers will be able to travel to the airport by showing their plane tickets.
17. The Religious Affairs Ministry will issue instructions regarding prayers in the mosque in line with 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.
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 Public Administration Ministry will ensure the appointment of the required number of executive magistrates at the field level.
21. The director general of the Directorate General of Health Services will allow the district administration and the law enforcement agencies to take legal action on his behalf.
Worsening Covid situation
The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is gradually heading towards a grim level, with the country recording the highest number of cases in a day – 8,822 – since March last year.
At the same time, 115 Covid-19 patients died across the country, taking the death toll to 14,503.
Between 8am Tuesday and 8am Wednesday, the health directorate recorded the new cases which took the total to 913,258.
The previous highest tally of single-day caseload -- 8,364 -- was reported on Monday.
With the latest data, Bangladesh reported over 100 deaths in 24 hours for the fourth consecutive day this month.
The country had recorded 112 more deaths and 7,666 new cases in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday mornings.
The country also saw the highest 119 deaths in 24 hours on Sunday, since the first cases and death were recorded on March 8 and 18 last year, respectively.
