DHAKA, March 23, 2020 (BSS) – The government today declared a nationwide 10-day holiday shutting down government and private offices excepting essential and healthcare facilities from March 26 over the COVID-19 situation.
“All the government and private offices will remain closed from March 26 to April 4 to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told a press briefing at the Secretariat here.
He said the Army personnel in aid of civil power will be deployed at divisional and district levels from March 24 next to help local administrations ensure social distancing and take cautionary measures to contain the spread of coronavirus across the country.
In coordination with the district magistrates, the cabinet secretary said, the Army personnel will arrange treatment of COVID-19 patients and will quarantine the suspects at divisional and district levels.
About the nationwide holiday, he said the March 26 is a public holiday, March 27-28 the weekend, while general holiday was declared for five days from March 29 and the weekend of April 3-4 would be included into the holiday.
Anwarul said all the government offices, except those involved in emergency services like law enforcement agencies, will remain closed during the holiday.
Kitchen markets, eateries, dispensaries and hospitals will remain open during this period, he added.
Noting that the government has taken the decision to contain the spread of coronavirus, the cabinet secretary said people have been asked not to go out of their homes without any emergency.
He said the necessary works of the offices and courts can be accomplished through online and if necessary, authorities can remain any government office open.
Anwarul said the movement of public transports will be limited during the holiday but people have been advised to avoid public transports.
“If any passenger wants to travel by public transports on emergency basis, he or she must take measures to avoid virus infection. Apart from wearing hand gloves and masks, the drivers and their assistants must take adequate cautionary measures,” he added.
The cabinet secretary said considering the necessity of commoners, Bangladesh Bank will give necessary directives in this regard to remain the banking services operational in a limited way.
He said the government will provide assistance to the urban low-income people, those who are affected due to coronavirus outbreak, under ‘Ghor a Fera Kormosuchi’ and the district administrations have been instructed in this regard.
Mentioning that the government has created livelihood opportunities and ensued accommodation for around one lakh people in Bhasan Char, Anwarul said the district administrations were instructed to send the interested people to this island so that they can avail the opportunities.
He said the district administrations have also been instructed to provide food and assistance to the poor people if they are affected due to the implementation of coronavirus prevention programmes.
The cabinet secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) to prepare a list of 500 doctors so they can play their due role in containing the spread of coronavirus.
The government has imposed restriction on all political, social and religious gatherings in the country, he said, urging the people having COVID-19 syndromes not to go to mosques for prayers.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Health Services Division Secretary Md Asadul Islam also spoke at the press briefing.
Speaking at the press briefing, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the Army Chief
General Aziz Ahmed and discussed the overall COVID-19 situation with him.
Noting that the prime minister is personally more concerned over the spread
of coronavirus, he said the premier also held meetings with secretaries and
other senior officials concerned in this regard.
The principal secretary said considering the safety of commoners, the prime
minister earlier met President Abdul Hamid and discussed the ongoing COVID-19
situation.
He said social distancing is the main key to contain the spread of
coronavirus as lockdown would not be a scientific solution.
“If we work together, I do believe that we would be able to tackle the
coronavirus situation,” Kaikaus said, adding that a monitoring cell at Prime
Minister’s Office will remain open for 24 hours.
Health Services Division Secretary Md Asadul Islam also spoke at the press
briefing.