The government is going to enforce a seven-day tougher lockdown countrywide from Thursday (July 1) engaging the Armed Forces, BGB and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) in a bid to check the coronavirus transmission in the country.
The decision on the imposing of this strict lockdown came while a lockdown on a limited scale is going on for three days from last Monday.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the government decision on Monday while briefing reporters at the Secretariat after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the Cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Sources also said the week-long strict lockdown might be extended if the situation does not improve.
“There will be no pass available for movement during this period from July 1 to July 7. None can go outside as they will have to stay indoors,” said the Cabinet Secretary, while adding, a notification will be issued on Tuesday (today) to inform all of the government orders in detail regarding the lockdown.
“We are going with a very tough view to execute the lockdown from 6:00am on July 1 to 12 am on July 7,” he said, replying to a question from reporters.
Only those who are engaged in emergency services are allowed to move during the restrictions, he added.
Noting that all forces, including the Armed Forces, BGB and APBn, will remain engaged there, Anwarul Islam said, “They (forces) will patrol and take legal action if anyone violates the government decisions (restrictions).”
The forces have been given the authority to take all necessary measures to enforce the restrictions and asked to remain vigilant so that people cannot break the lockdown in any way, he said.
At the cabinet meeting, the State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief gave a clear directive to work out a programme to ensure proper assistance for the poor, particularly in urban areas, during the upcoming lockdown as it did in the last year, said the cabinet secretary.
Mentioning that a meeting was held with the Home Minister in the chair on Saturday last to discuss the lockdown issue, he said they will sit in another meeting to discuss it in detail and then the government’s orders will be informed through a notification on Tuesday.
He said the government cannot go for a strict restriction till June 30 on some realistic grounds. “So, it’ll start on July 1,” he added.
Anwarul Islam said the COVID-19 infection rate has declined significantly in Chapainawabganj due to the strict execution of restrictive measures there.
Meanwhile, a ban announced by the government on the movement of all public transports except goods carriers and rickshaws for 72 hours from 6:00am was started from 6:00am on Monday. It will continue till July 1 in a bid to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread that is going on.
Earlier on Sunday, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification regarding the curb on public transport movement, adding some conditions and points to the ongoing restrictions and programmes to restrain coronavirus transmission were taken into account for the current situation of Covid-19.
It said the restrictions would have to be implemented through regular patrolling by members of law enforcement agencies.
According to the notification, all shopping malls, markets, tourist spots, resorts, community and recreation centers remained closed.
Restaurants and eateries can sell foods only through takeaway or online services between 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Government and non-government institutions manage their own transportation for carrying required numbers of officials and employees.
Consciousness raising campaigns on wearing of face masks by people would have to be further strengthened, and if required, legal actions should be taken, the gazette notification said.
The government imposed the countrywide restrictions on public movement on April 5 this year and enforced the 'strict lockdown' from April 14. The 'lockdown' was later extended several times.
