Relaxed 'lockdown' extended to 5 May

Amid the debate between lives and livelihoods, the ongoing "lockdown" has been extended for a week until 5 May though shops and shopping malls will remain open for 10 hours a day.

The decision was made, as advised by public health experts considering the Covid situation in the country, said Farhad Hossain, state minister for public administration. A circular will be issued on Tuesday in this regard.

Strict health guidelines will be followed during the opening hours of shops and shopping malls between 10:00am and 8:00pm, Farhad said. They have been kept out of the purview of the restriction because they have already made investments ahead of Eid festivity.

Public vehicles will not be running during the lockdown.

Earlier on Sunday, the government closed the border with India for 14 days, starting on 26 April, as Covid-19 has taken a dangerous turn in the neighboring country. A second wave has hit India with such a ferocity that hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds and antiviral drugs. Many patients are being turned away by healthcare facilities.

In Bangladesh, limited restrictions were in place from 5-11 April to tame the second wave of the pandemic but to no avail.

Later, a one-week nationwide lockdown was enforced from 14 April, which was then extended until 28 April.

The government, however, lifted some of the restrictions, including on shops and shopping malls.

The Press Information Department in a circular on Monday said legal action would be taken if people did not wear masks.

Whenever people will leave home for an emergency, they will have to put on a mask, it said. The authority also encouraged double masking.

Crowded streets

A swarm of vehicles were seen plying the streets of the capital on the 13th day of the lockdown. Police and other law enforcement agencies were not strictly enforcing the restrictions.

The barricades that had been placed earlier to slow down traffic disappeared as well.

Though public transport was prohibited, an increasing number of private cars, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, rickshaws and pedestrians were seen. Even there were traffic congestions at some places.

Police did not check whether people were moving with a movement pass. People in localities and even on thoroughfares were showing indifference to health guidelines and social distancing.

Customers crowd shopping malls

As the shops and shopping malls opened for the second day on Monday, people thronged there to buy products.

They were few in number in the morning but more and more customers showed up after noon. The crowd was bigger after iftar.

People were making purchases targeting the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr, mostly without protective measures and social distancing. Many salesmen were also not following health guidelines.

At a clothing shop in New Market, two salesmen said they pulled down their masks to their chins because the customer presence was thin, but they would pull the masks back up whenever any customer entered the shop.

Only a few markets kept hand sanitizers at the entrance.

Instructions in Eid congregation

The Ministry of Religious Affairs, meanwhile, said Eid congregations would be arranged at mosques, instead of Eidgah. 

A circular said children, elderly, sick people and those engaged in caring for ill patients would not be allowed to join the Eid gatherings.

If necessary, a mosque will hold Eid prayer more than once. People will have to wear masks in the gatherings, and the prayer mats and caps that are in stock at mosques should not be used during the prayers.