Law enforcers have been deployed on streets to make sure people stay indoors as the government starts enforcing a seven-day countrywide strict restriction today to stem the surge in Covid-19 infections and deaths.
A sufficient number of armed forces personnel will also be on patrol, the Cabinet Division said in a gazette on Wednesday (Jun 30), adding that they would be aiding the members of police, Ansar, Rab and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has warned that anyone found outside their home without emergencies will be arrested during the strict restriction.
Those people will be arrested and cases will be filed against them under Section 269 of the penal code, DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said during a press briefing at the capital's DMP Media Centre yesterday.
The section criminalises anyone who "unlawfully or negligently" does any act which is, and/or which the person knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life" and carries with it a jail term of up to six months.
Till date, no one in the country has been held or sued under the section.
The DMP commissioner said cars cannot ply the streets without emergency reasons amid the restrictions. If necessary, people can take rickshaws, he said.
Those landing at the airports from abroad can hire cars, but the passengers must carry passports and their air tickets, Shafiqul said.
He warned that the police may arrest a huge number of people if they violate the Covid curbs. The action may be taken as the Covid situation across the country has turned alarming, he said.
"We might see as many as 5,000 people getting arrested on the first day of the lockdown," he said.
The Cabinet Division's gazette said executive magistrates, empowered to take legal actions through mobile courts, will also be present on the streets to check public movement. The public administration ministry has been instructed to deploy the magistrates.
The lockdown begins today at 8:00 a.m. and ends on Jul 7 midnight.
State Minister for the Ministry of Public Administration Farhad Hossain told the media that the government may extend the restrictions depending on the gravity of the Covid situation.
The country on Wednesday reported a record number of daily cases – 8,822. Another 115 Covid patients were reported dead in 24 hours preceding 8:00 a.m. yesterday.
Strict restriction purview
All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed amid the strict restriction.
Motorised vehicles are banned from operating on streets. Operations of public transport on road, rail and waterways will be halted. Domestic flights will remain suspended, said the gazette.
Besides, all shops, including malls or markets, tourist centres, resorts, community and recreation centers will remain shut.
There will be no public gatherings such as social ceremonies (weddings, reception, walima, birthdays, picnics and parties) as well as political and religious ceremonies.
Employees and vehicles of offices related to maintaining law and order and providing emergency services can move about on streets by showing identity cards and/or other valid documents.
Trucks, lorries and cargo vessels involved in transporting goods will remain out of the lockdown's purview. Ports and related offices are also exempted from the ban.
Kitchen markets can operate in open places from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The local administration will monitor it, said the gazette.
No one can go outside their home in any way except for urgent needs such as purchase of medicines and other necessities, visiting medical services, burial or cremation.
Legal action will be taken against those who disobey the instructions, the gazette said.
People can go out to take vaccines but they must carry their vaccination cards.
Hotels and restaurants can sell food (online or takeaway) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
International flights will operate as usual and people going to the airports have to carry their passports and air tickets, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh said in a release.
The CAAB had earlier recommended that the government allow the operation of international flights so that migrant workers can go to their workplaces abroad.
In a circular, Bangladesh Bank said banks would remain closed between from Jul 1 to Jul 4. From Jun 5, clients would be allowed to settle financial transactions till 1:30 p.m. every working day.
The Appellate Division and High Court divisions of the Supreme Court will function on a limited scale virtually.
Meanwhile, a circular from the public administration ministry said the government has deployed 106 executive magistrates to monitor the implementation of the seven-day restrictions from today across the country.
The magistrates will operate mobile courts under Section 10(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, said the circular.
