Decision today if Bangladesh to extend Covid restrictions

The government may decide today whether it will extend the restrictions on public movement and business activities to contain the surge in Covid infections which are scheduled to end at midnight today amid widespread violations.

Officials at the Cabinet Division said that they were expecting a decision from higher authorities today whether everything would go normal from Monday.

The government earlier extended the restrictions in phases, beginning from April 5, to contain the Covid outbreak. 

The restrictions are only in effect on the services of inter-district transports on roads, waterways and railways and all government and non-government offices excepting those providing emergency services.

People have been seen during the restrictions till Saturday moving all around defying the ban on public movement amid a lax enforcement of the restrictions.

All other businesses and activities have reopened and continued while violations of health regulations, especially maintaining social distances and wearing masks properly, have also continued.

During the recent Eid-ul- Fitr festival, the rush of holidaymakers to different districts and shopping malls and gatherings of people all other places made public health experts to express fear that there would be rise in Covid cases again for these violations and the Indian coronavirus variant increases the risks also.

The Cabinet Division on April 4 issued an 11-point instruction, restricting public movement outside home between 6:00pm and 6:00am without an emergency, closing all markets and shopping malls, banning the operation of all modes of public transport, including domestic flights, limiting the banking hours and the trading time at kitchen markets and shops of essentials between April 5 and April 11.

Then, the government extended the restrictions on April 14 and lastly on May 16, it again extended the restrictions by another week till May 23 midnight, keeping the ban on inter-district buses, trains and launches.

The government has, meanwhile, extended restrictions on the movement of passengers through land ports with India, up to May 31, as the surge in coronavirus cases continues in India.

Although borders with India will remain closed to people, goods will continue to cross, reports United News of Bangladesh.

However, Bangladeshi citizens, stranded in India, could enter through Benapole, Akhaura, Burimari Darshana, Hili, and Sonamasjid.

The general movement of people between Bangladesh and India, through all the other land ports, will remain suspended

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/138553/decision-today-if-bangladesh-to-extend-covid-restrictions