Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the country has gone through a general holiday, restrictions on public movements and so-called lockdowns or strict lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19.
From March 2020 till now, the government of Bangladesh has closed down offices, shops, transports, imposed restrictions on public movements several times and then reopened everything after a certain period of time.
Bangladesh reported its first Covid-19 positive case on March 8, 2020, with the first death from infection being on March 18, 2020.
The government then declared a shutdown of all educational institutions from March 18 till March 31.
All kinds of political, social, cultural and religious gatherings faced restrictions from March 19 while all shopping complexes and malls across the country were ordered closed from March 25.
On March 19, 2020, Bangladesh first imposed a lockdown in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur. During this time Shibchar was isolated from other parts of the country.
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First countrywide general holiday announced
On March 23, 2020, the Ministry of Public Administration declared nationwide general holidays from March 26 to April 4 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
File photo: Police officials stop a motorcycle rider out and about in Barisal during the earlier days of the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Bangladesh went into its first phase of pandemic lockdown in late March in 2020, which was extended several times and lasted till May 30, 2020 | Dhaka Tribune
The armed forces were deployed in all 64 districts, in aid of the civil authorities, to assist district administrations across Bangladesh in ensuring social distancing and aid in other necessary measures.
All social, political, and religious gatherings were banned in the country. Particularly people with flu, fever, or cough were advised to not visit mosques during that time.
All international flights were also suspended till March 31. However, flights from only four countries – China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UK, were allowed to operate till date.
Movement of all public transports across Bangladesh were suspended for 10 days from March 26 till April 4.
General holiday extended six times till May 30, 2020
On April 2, 2020, the general holiday was extended till April 9 for the first time.
The second time it was extended till April 14. As April 14 was Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year, people were entitled to a government holiday on that day as well.
Then, for a third time, the general holiday was extended till April 25, 2020.
File photo: People wait in line in front of TCB truck sale on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
Within a few days the government again extended the general holiday till May 5. This time around the garment factories started reopening with a limited number of workers.
Then the government again extended the general holiday till May 5 first, later till May 16.
At the time a decision containing instructions for Intra-city and intra-district bus services, allowing them to transport passengers from May 6 was made. However, no long-route public transports were allowed, including buses, trains and launches, until further notice.
The decision to keep long-route public transports suspended was taken to discourage the usual homebound rush during the holidays, as it would facilitate the spread of Covid-19.
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General holiday ends on May 31, restrictions begin
Despite a rise in Covid-19 cases, offices and public transport services resumed, ending 66 days of general holiday or lockdown measures. Workplaces were allowed to operate on a limited scale from May 31 to June 15, but everyone had to follow the 13-points health directives issued earlier by the Heath Services Division.
The gazette also mentioned that law enforcers would continue to strictly enforce the ban on movement of people to and from one district to another. Check posts would be installed at entry and exit points of each district, to be monitored cautiously by the district administration and police.
Only private vehicles were allowed to operate along long routes. But inter-district trains and water vessels opened from May 31.
Airlines operated flights under their own management while abiding by health guidelines.
On the same day, the Public Administration Ministry said government offices at division, district and upazila levels under 18 ministries and divisions would remain open on a limited scale.
File photo: Local police and ward council volunteers monitor the lockdown measures in a coronavirus 'red zone' in Dhaka in July 2020 | Md Manik/Dhaka Tribune
Restrictions extended till June 30, 2020
This time the government decided to extend the restrictions on movement till June 30, 2020.
During this period, all offices and businesses, in areas marked as red zones by authorities, were supposed to remain shut, according to the government directives.
However, offices in the yellow and green zones were allowed to operate on a limited scale.
Restrictions till August 3, 2020
Restrictions on public movement and limited operations of offices and public transport while following health guidelines were again extended till August 3.
Only 25% of staff were allowed in every office this time and rosters were followed.
Restrictions till August 31, 2020
On August 4, 2020, restrictions on public movement were extended once again till August 31.
Zone-based lockdowns were implemented by following the "Covid-19 zone-based containment implementation guide" from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Restrictions lifted
On September 1, 2020, the government lifted all kinds of restrictions on public movement and activities.
A circular of the Cabinet Division said there would be no bar on movement after 10pm from September 1 as it had not been mentioned in the new government circular.
Similarly, the government allowed public transports to carry passengers at full capacity and regular fares from September 1.
From September 5, Bangladesh Railway started selling tickets for all local, mail, and commuter trains at the stations, but continued to carry half of its passenger capacity as enforced during the pandemic.
New directions on March 29, 2021
In light of the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country, the government imposed a new set of restrictions, including a ban on all public gatherings in areas with high rates of infections again.
It also said that buses would not be allowed to carry passengers more than half of their seating capacity and needed to maintain safety guidelines.
Restrictions again from April 5 to July 15
A sudden rise in coronavirus infections and deaths prompted the government to initially issue an 18-point directive on March 29, and then go for a weeklong lockdown from April 5.
The ever-busy Motijheel intersection is seen empty on the second day of the second phase of Covid-19 lockdown enforced this year. Photo taken on Thursday, April 15, 2021 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
But as it failed to achieve the expected results, the government decided to enforce a "strict lockdown" from April 14 till April 21, which was later extended until April 28.
However, in the face of growing demand, the government gave permission for a reopening of shops and malls across the country from April 25 (10am to 5pm) amid the protest.
In the meantime, on April 26, Bangladesh shut down its border with India for two weeks, which was later extended twice on May 8 and then on May 29 which is still ongoing.
The government again extended restrictions on public movement or so called lockdown for another week until May 23.
Further the ongoing restrictions were extended till midnight of May 30.
This time the government allowed the resumption of all kinds of public transport, including long-haul services and also restaurants and eateries.
The so-called nationwide lockdown was supposed to end on May 30 midnight. But the restrictions remained in place until June 16 midnight, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on May 30.
With a fresh directive, the ongoing restrictions would remain in place until July 15, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on June 16.
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File photo: The road between Dhanmondi Hawkers' Market and Gausia Market in Dhaka is packed with traffic and shoppers on Friday, April 9, 2021, Day 5 of the week-long lockdown that was imposed across Bangladesh to curb the alarming rise of Covid-19 transmission | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
Lacklustre attitude towards lockdown directives
Professor Shahidullah Shikder, former vice principal of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University, told this correspondent: “If people are not self-motivated, these types of lockdown or restrictions will not achieve their goals properly.”
“The government also needs to find out why hundreds of thousands of people are leaving the capital after hearing about the lockdown. It is because they think the lockdown is idle time. So, they want to spend this time with their families in the villages,” Dr Shikder added.
Dr Tarek Mahmud Hossain, a public health expert, told this correspondent on Sunday: “I think it’s the lack of implementation. If we can motivate people before imposing these restrictions, then we could get better results.”
