Lockdown likely to be extended for another week
This time, police will exercise magistracy power to make people maintain pandemic guidelines
The ongoing lockdown, which was scheduled to end on 16 May, is likely to be extended for another week as the authorities fear that the deadly Indian variant of Covid-19 may worsen the pandemic situation.
This time, the police will be given magistracy power to ensure that people wear masks and maintain hygiene rules.
Farhad Hossain, state minister for public administration, confirmed the information to The Business Standard, saying a gazette notification could be issued in this regard after Eid.
As the coronavirus situation took a severe turn in Bangladesh at the beginning of April, the government enforced a seven-day lockdown from April 5 across the country to stem the tide of the viral disease.
After a two-day break at the end of the lockdown, the country went into an eight-day strict lockdown from April 14.
Later, the strict lockdown was extended until 16 May in phases.
Meanwhile, the deadly coronavirus variant that is ravaging neighbouring India was found in Bangladesh on 8 May. This Indian variant is considered dangerous because of its clinical aspects.
Though the Bangladesh government closed the border with India, many Bangladeshis were allowed to enter the country, subject to having a Covid-19 negative certificate. They were put in mandatory quarantine.
In India, Coronavirus infections soared in a "tsunami" of disease, setting a new world record for cases over the past few weeks.
The second wave of Covid-19 has hit the country with such ferocity that hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds, and antiviral drugs. Many patients are being turned away due to lack of space for them.