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Shopping malls to remain open for 8hrs from today


Published : 08 Apr 2021 09:21 PM | Updated : 09 Apr 2021 12:33 AM

The government has allowed shops and shopping malls to keep open from 9:00am to 5:00pm from Friday following health guidelines. However, the permission is applicable for a period of five days from April 9 to 13.

The cabinet division in a notification disclosed this decision on Thursday. 

The notification signed by deputy secretary Md Rezaul Islam said the authorities would take legal actions against those who will flout the health guidelines in the wake of spike of coronavirus infection. 

According to the decision, shops and malls can remain open for 8 hours from Friday to Tuesday.

Earlier, the authorities enforced countrywide lockdown for a week from 5 April to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

Leaders of shop owners’ association had a demand for permission to keep shopping malls and other business establishments open.

They were arguing that the havoc caused by coronavirus would be double if business establishments and shopping malls remain closed.

Considering the demand, the Cabinet Division has issued a notification allowing shopping malls and other business establishments to be run following health regulations and social distance.

The 'lockdown' that started on Monday to handle the second wave of coronavirus has been opposed by the traders of the country from the very beginning.

However, before the start of the lockdown, the government had said that all public transport, including long distance, would be closed. But later the government reconsidered the decision and now only long distance transport is closed.

In the meanwhile, when the transport in the city started, the lockdown practically broke down and everything became normal.

Earlier, the government had issued 18-point directives to prevent coronavirus infection, so that everyone is compliant with hygiene rules and all forms of public gatherings are discouraged.

The first coronavirus infection occurred in Bangladesh on March 8 last year. As it continued to increase day by day, it was declared a general holiday on March 26 for the first time in the country, which was later extended several times.