News Desk :
The government has issued a notification imposing restrictions on the movement of people and other activities for seven days from today with a view to preventing the transmission of Coronavirus and improves the current situation in Bangladesh.
The Cabinet Division issued the notification on Wednesday which will remain in force from 6 am on July 1 till 12 am on July 7. According to the gazette, all the government non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed during the period.
All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets will also remain closed.
All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social programmes, birthday and picnic parties, political and religious events will remain suspended until further notice, reports UNB.
The Bangladesh Supreme Court will issue a separate notice on operating court activities while the Bangladesh Bank will issue separate directives to ensure banking services.
The offices, staffers and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.
However, the restriction will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production. But the offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.
Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.
Kitchen markets and shops with daily essentials will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure it.
No one will be allowed to go outside except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/ cremation of dead bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who are found involved in violating the restrictions.
Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8 am to 8 pm with takeaway/online services only. Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing a vaccine card. International flights will operate during the lockdown and the passengers going abroad can be allowed to move after showing their air tickets.
The Religious Affairs Ministry will issue separate notices on performing prayers in compliance with health guidelines. The Army will be deployed in aid to the civil administration and the Armed Forces Division will deploy Army. District Magistrates will ensure in coordination with the local Army Commander.
District and field administrations will take measures to enforce the directives in a coordinated way involving the BGB, police, Rab, Ansar and Army personnel at the district level.
The ministry and division concerned will provide necessary directives to the field- level administrations.
The Public Administration Ministry will ensure the recruitment of adequate executive magistrates while the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services will take necessary steps to engage law enforcers and local administrations on their behalf.
BSS added: To curb the spread of the corona virus, the government has issued a notification imposing restrictions on the overall activities and public movement.
The instructions will be applicable for the overall activities and public movement from 8 am today to midnight on July 7.
Employees and vehicles of offices related to Law and order and emergency services, such as: agricultural products and materials (fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and agricultural machinery), transportation of food grains and foodstuffs, relief distribution, healthcare, ensuring Covid-19 vaccination, revenue collection related activities, electricity, water, gas or fuel, fire service, telephone and internet (public-private), media (print and electronic media), private security systems, postal services, banks, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals and other essential or essential goods and services can travel subject to display of identity card.
Trucks, lorries or covered vans or cargo vessels used for transporting goods will be exempt from the ban.
Ports (air, sea, naval and land) and related offices shall be excluded from the purview of it.
Industries will continue to operate their own activities following hygiene rules.
‘Kacha bazaar’ and daily necessities can be bought and sold in open places from 9 am to 5 pm in accordance with hygiene rules and the concerned trade organization or market authority and local administration will monitor the matter.
No one can go outside homes in any way except for urgent needs (purchase of medicines and necessities, medical services, burial or cremation). Legal action will be taken against those who disobey the instructions.
Individuals can travel for vaccination subject to display of vaccination card.
Food shops, hotels and restaurants will be able to sell food (online or takeaway) from 8 am to 8 pm.
International flights will remain open and foreign passengers will be able to travel using the car by displaying their international travel tickets.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs will give instructions regarding prayers in the mosque following the hygiene rules.
Armed Forces will deploy the required number of troops to ensure effective patrols at the field level under the ‘Army in Aid to Civil Power’ provision. The district magistrate will contact the local army commander to confirm the matter.
The district magistrate will hold a coordination meeting with the concerned officers at the district level to determine the jurisdiction, method and time and patrol of Army, BGB, Police, RAB and Ansar.
Besides,, if any special activities is needed locally, the concerned person will take action in that regard and the concerned ministries or departments will provide necessary instructions in this regard at the field level.
The Ministry of Public Administration will ensure the appointment of the required number of executive magistrates at the field level.
The Director General of Directorate General of Health Services will empower the district administration and the police force to take legal action on his behalf.
