Govt and private offices shut down from March 26 to April 4

NEWS DESK 

All government and private offices will remain shut from March 26 to April 4 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. 

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the measures at a press conference at the Secretariat, as per directives from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The cabinet secretary said the prime minister on Monday held meeting with Enamur Rahman, state minister for disaster management and relief, and top bureaucrats, including her principal secretary, on containing the spread of the virus. Khandker Anwarul was also present.

Before the meeting, the prime minister held another meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, he said, adding the PM gave the directives taking the overall situation into consideration.

March 26 is a general holiday and March 27-28 are weekly holidays. March 29 to April 2 will be public holidays. Besides, April 3-4 are also weekly holidays. So, the government offices will remain closed from March 26 to April 4.

During that period, different offices and courts would discharge duties online and only the government offices, which deem to be necessary, would remain open, he said.

Only kitchen market, hospitals and other emergency services will remain open during this time.

The Bangladesh Bank will instruct banks to limit their services during the period, the cabinet secretary added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank said all private and public banks would remain open from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm on regular working days from March 26-April 4, according to BB spokesperson Sirajul Islam.

During that period, services at the banks will remain limited and the banks will only conduct cash transactions. The transactions will have to be made between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

The move came after BB was directed to issue necessary directives on ensuring limited operation of banks amid the holidays.

People needing to use public transport must take necessary precautions. Drivers and their helpers must wear masks and gloves, he said.

The cabinet secretary said if lower-income people, facing hardship in cities due to the coronavirus outbreaks, want to go back to their village home, the government would provide assistance to them under "Ghare Fera Karmasuchi".

Deputy commissioners would take necessary measures in this regard, he said.

For this purpose, the government has taken adequate steps to ensure housing and livelihood of people at Bhashanchar of Hatiya upazila in Noakhali, he said.

He also urged anyone interested to take the opportunity, saying deputy commissioners were directed to take steps in sending adequate number people there.

The DCs were also directed to provide poor people, whose income would be affected, with food and financial assistance, he said.

Besides, the prime minister has already directed Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) to make a list of 500 doctors, who would discharge duties in the fight against coronavirus.

The government has imposed ban on all types of social, political and religious gatherings, he said, adding that those who are ill or have fever or cough or cold have repeated been asked not to go to the mosque. But one defied the directive and went to a mosque in Mirpur, which ultimately infected another.

"In this regard, the pious ones were specially requested to strictly follow the advises of Islamic Foundation and religious leaders."

The country's top bureaucrat came up with these announcement within an hour after the IEDCR said another coronavirus patient died and six more people tested positive for the virus.

He also urged people not to come out of home unless it is an emergency and advised all to maintain enough protective measures while using public transports.

Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, principal secretary to the prime minister, said a monitoring cell at Prime Minister's Office will open for 24 hours.