Govt mulls enforcing strict one week lockdown from 14 April: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday announced that the government is considering a more strict approach to the ongoing countrywide lockdown and extend it for another week from 14 April in the wake of the alarming increase in Covid-19 infections. 

"Government is thinking about enforcing another week of lockdown from 14 April as the Covid-19 infection has taken a terrible turn in the country," said Awami League General Secretary in a briefing from his residence. 

He commented that there does not seem to be any change in the indifferent mentality of the people despite the ongoing lockdown.  

"The rate of infection and death is increasing by leaps and bounds with the growing neglect and indifference of the people," he lamented. 

The minister further said the government expects to enforce the lockdown measure from 14 April more strictly. "The government is considering an all-out lockdown for a week from 14th," he said. 

Bangladesh's weeklong stay-at-home order was poised to peter out amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases and fatalities as it seemingly collapsed in the face of protests by people over livelihood. 

The government decided to permit markets and shopping malls to open from Friday on a limited scale. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the authorities had also resumed public transport services in the cities from 6am to 6pm to ease office-goers' suffering.

The country reported 74 deaths from Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest in a single day in the country so far. The number of infections at the district level as well as in Dhaka is also increasing rapidly.

The total number of cases now stands at 666,132, and the death toll stands at 9,521. 

Experts said hospitals in Dhaka are already struggling to provide treatment, and the situation could worsen if Covid-19 infections increase in the districts.