Staff Reporter :
All government and private offices will be closed for 10 days public holiday from March 26 to April 4 to prevent the coronavirus outbreak.
The emergency services such as law enforcement agencies, hospitals, pharmacies, medicals, diagnostic centres, grocers, departmental stores, press as well as Fire Service and Civil Defence are exempted from the government’s decision and would freely operate.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the government decision on Monday while addressing journalists at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday.
This announcement comes in the wake of three deaths and 33 infections, including six new cases, in connection with the coronavirus in the country.
People have been asked to practice social distancing and stay in their homes as much as possible. Local administration around the country have been asked to encourage social distancing among people and armed forces will help them in this regard.
Public transport will remain limited and people have been asked to avoid using them as well to prevent spread of the virus.
Banking services have also been limited and the country’s central bank — Bangladesh Bank — will give necessary directives in this regard.
District magistrates can take avail necessary support, depending on the requirement.
If any office wants to continue with their operation, they would have to do so online, as per the government directive.
“If anyone finds it essential to continue their work in office, only they can do so, in case of an emergency,” he said.
All social, political and religious gatherings have been banned in the country. Particularly, people with flu, fever, or cough have been advised not to visit mosques, said the cabinet secretary.
He also said in coordination with the district magistrate, army will evaluate the quarantine system of suspected persons and treatment of coronavirus infected patients in district and divisional towns.
The district magistrates will request local army commander in line with the law for evaluating the situation.
Army would be deployed Tuesday (March 24) onward in all 64 districts, in aid of the civil power, to assist district administrations across Bangladesh to ensure social distancing and aid in necessary measures. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director Lt Col Abdulla Ibn Zayed confirmed it.
Besides, the Prime Minister has already instructed Bangladesh Medical
Association (BMA) to prepare a list of 500 doctors who could be included, as per requirement, in the coronavirus infection management process, as per the guideline.
Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, said a monitoring cell at Prime Minister’s Office will remain open for 24 hours.
