Govt may authorise police to ensure health rules as lockdown extended for another week
Magistracy power to be given to police to help contain infections and make people follow health rules under the infectious disease control act
The government on Sunday extended the ongoing restrictions on public movement by another week, from 17 May to 23 May, to contain the spread of Covid-19.
It is also considering giving police magistracy power to help contain infections and make people follow hygiene rules under the Infectious Diseases (Prevention, Control and Eradication) Act 2018.
"We will seek recommendations from the health directorate and make a decision soon to make sure that everyone wears a mask when they go outside," said State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain.
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He said the infectious disease control law would be implemented strictly from now on and an ordinance would be promulgated to empower the police if necessary.
The state minister also said some people were still ignoring the government order on the mandatory use of masks, exposing everyone to infection risks.
"The coronavirus crisis will not go away soon. For a long-term intervention, we will have to make sure that everyone wears a mask to contain the spread of the deadly virus," he added.
The Cabinet Division issued a circular on Sunday extending the lockdown amid people returning to the capital after celebrating Eid with their families ignoring infection risks and the restrictions on movement.
Intra-district buses will run during the lockdown while the ban on inter-district bus operations will remain in force. In the latest circular, some of the restrictions, including those on shops and shopping malls, have been lifted.
All government and non-government offices, except for those providing emergency services, would remain closed during the lockdown, according to a government order issued earlier.
The latest circular included all offices and agencies involved in government revenue collections in emergency services.
It said restaurants would be allowed to sell food online or for takeaways while train and launch services would remain suspended.
The Cabinet Division on 4 April issued an 11-point instruction restricting public movement outside home between 6pm and 6am without any emergency, ordering shutdown of all markets and shopping malls, banning the operation of all modes of public transports, including domestic flights, and limiting banking hours as well as business hours at kitchen markets and shops of essentials between 5 April and 11 April.
The restrictions were extended later in phases and lastly on 5 May, the government extended the curbs till 16 May while relaxing flight operations.
The border with India was closed for 14 days, starting on 26 April, as Covid-19 took a dangerous turn in the neighbouring country. The closure was later extended for two weeks.
