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Lockdown effects

Dhaka delinked


Published : 22 Jun 2021 09:46 PM | Updated : 23 Jun 2021 01:31 AM

The road, rail and waterway connections have been shut down with Dhaka to tackle the further spread of the deadly virus as the government has announced a lockdown in seven districts of the country from June 22 to June 30.

Following the government directives, the Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has decided to suspend all passenger vessels, while Railway Ministry has informed that no passenger train service will be available until June 30.

On the other hand, long-haul passenger bus services from different districts outside Dhaka have also been stopped. The bus services were closed from 6am Tuesday.

Cabinet Secretary in a briefing on Monday announced the lockdown in seven districts. According to the government’s decision, the districts under lockdown are: Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Gazipur and Gopalganj.

Passenger boats (launch / speedboat / trawler / others) will be closed in seven districts (Manikganj, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Madaripur, Rajbari, Gopalganj) until further notice. Passenger boats from Dhaka to other districts will also be closed until further notice, the Shipping Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The statement further said that, the owners, masters, drivers, staff, passengers and all concerned have been requested to abide by the given instructions. Action will be taken according to law against those who disobey the order.

Bangladesh Railway sources said that all train services across the country will be suspended from the wee hour of Wednesday to June 30 midnight. These decisions will continue till the lockdown ends.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association's General Secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah on Monday while talking to media said, “It is not possible to enter Dhaka city without avoiding any of the seven restricted districts”. 

“Therefore, as per the government instructions, long-distance bus services to Dhaka will be closed from June 22 to June 30,” Enayet Ullah said. 

Only law enforcement agencies and emergency services, such as agricultural goods and materials (fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery, etc.), food grains and food transport, relief distribution, healthcare, Covid-19  vaccines, electricity, water, gas / fuel, fire service, port (river port) activities, telephone and internet (public-private), media (print and electronic media), private security system, offices related to other urgent goods and services including postal service, their staff and vehicles and freight trucks will remain out of the purview of the government restriction.