The ongoing lockdown in Chapainawabganj has been extended for another week, until June 7, to curb the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in the district.
However, the seasonal mango trade will be exempted from the lockdown restrictions this time, the district’s Deputy Commissioner Manjurul Hafiz told a press briefing at his office on Monday.
He claimed the initial seven-day restriction successfully drove down the Covid-19 infection rate in the district. But they decided to extend the lockdown to maintain the declining trend.
Hafiz said that mangoes can be sold or purchased in different designated places. Mangoes can be carried by trucks and the transportation of mangoes can be operated through courier services. The local administrations will take necessary steps in this regard.
“The fresh one-week lockdown will have all the same restrictions in place as before,” he said.
All kinds of vehicles will stay off the road during the lockdown while vehicles on emergency services, including ambulance, goods-laden vehicles, patient carrying vehicles, will be allowed to move on roads.
No vehicle from Rajshahi and Naogaon will be allowed to enter or exit Chapainawabganj.
All shops and weekly haats will remain shut during the shutdown. Grocery shops, kitchen markets and pharmacies will remain open.
People will not be allowed to come out of home except in emergencies.
Hotels and restaurants can operate deliveries or online services. Only 20 people will be allowed to offer prayer at mosques during Jumma prayer and others prayer.
On May 24, authorities imposed the strict weeklong lockdown in Chapainawabganj, after Covid-19 cases alarmingly shot up in recent days.
The deadly Indian variant of the disease has also been detected in multiple patients in the district, creating a fresh concern in the region.
The district’s Superintendent of Police AHM Abdur Rakib, Civil Surgeon Dr Zahid Nazrul Chowdhury, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Zakiul Islam were also present at Monday’s press briefing.
