No restriction on public movement to curb second wave of Covid-19

The Bangladesh government has decided to not impose any restrictions on public movement yet even though it is preparing to tackle the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam made the remarks to the media after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the virtual meeting from Ganobhaban, while other ministers and secretaries joined in from the Secretariat.

“The second wave of Covid-19 was broadly discussed at the meeting, as some European countries like England and France have already declared lockdowns as a precautionary measure to the virus,” said the cabinet secretary.

Responding to a question about restriction on public movement, he said: “For the time being, we have decided not to impose any such restrictions. The prime minister is confident that the current situation can be tackled sufficiently well by wearing masks.”

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Khandker Anwarul Islam added that the government is making a concerted effort to ensure that everyone is wearing masks. 

“We have instructed all public and private offices to keep on wearing masks,” he said.

The cabinet secretary further added that wearing masks inside public transport will soon be made mandatory as well. 

To tackle the second wave of Covid-19, the government has been trying to implement the usage of masks to minimize infections.

On October 31, the Cabinet Division sent notices to all public offices of the country, asking them to restrict entry and to refuse service to anyone without a mask.

The notice further said masks have been made compulsory for all offices, courts, shopping malls, bazaars, state or government buildings and social events.

In the wake of Covid-19 resurgence in many European and American countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 19 urged all to follow health guidelines and use face-masks in public places and gatherings, aiming to prevent the possible second wave of the pandemic in Bangladesh.