Bangladesh to shut all offices from Mar 26 to Apr 4

Bangladesh has decided to shut all government and private offices and courts from March 26 to April 4 amid mounting fears of the coronavirus that has infected 33 people and killed three.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam made the announcement on Monday.

The shutdown will not affect emergency services such as hospital and Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Public transport will operate on a limited scale during the holidays.

The secretary said the government decided to announce general holidays from Mar 29 to Apr 2.

Mar 26 is public holiday on account of the Independence Day and National Day while the next two days are Friday and Saturday – the weekend.

After the five-day general holidays, Apr 3 and 4 are weekend again.

It means the people will remain at home altogether for 10 days. Schools, colleges and all other educational institutions had already been shut until Mar 31.

Anwarul urged all not to come out of home during the holidays unless they must like purchase of food, grocery, medical treatment, or burial of the dead.

Essential work at the offices will be done online while the government offices that need to remain open will do so, he said.

The cabinet secretary implored the Muslims to follow the Islamic Foundation’s instructions on avoiding mosques for prayers if they show symptoms of COVID-19. He said a patient had gone to a mosque in Mirpur’s Tolarbagh and spread the disease among others.

He also urged the people to avoid public transport as much as possible.

“The drivers and their assistants must wear masks and gloves,” he said.

Health Secretary Asadul Islam said, “[Total] lockdown is not scientific. Public transport system will remain open.”

The Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus described the measures taken by the government to stop the spread of the virus.

He said the owners will decide about operating the readymade garment factories that manufacturer the largest portion of goods Bangladesh exports.

Some factories were making personal protection equipment or PPE for doctors and health workers, Kaikaus said.

Anwarul also said the government would help any person, who lives in a city but unable to bear everyday costs, return to his or her village home and rehabilitate.

Bhasan Char, a remote Bay of Bengal island that has been readied for relocation of Rohingya refugees, is now open to the Bangladeshis who are willing to live and earn livelihood there.