The government has announced a 9-day lockdown in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Manikganj, Rajbari and Gopalganj districts from Tuesday as the Covid-19 situation continues to worsen across the country.

Long distance buses will not enter Dhaka for the next nine days to curb community transmission of Covid-19.

Cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam announced the decision at an emergency press briefing on Monday.

The Cabinet Division also issued a circular in this regard.

The circular said the lockdown will remain in force from 6 am on June 22 to June 30 midnight.

However, emergency services like transportation of agricultural equipment and inputs (seeds, fertilizer, insecticides, agri machinery), crops, food items, relief activities, health services, Covid-19 vaccination, water, power, gas, fire service, port activities, telephone, internet services, mass media (electronic and print), private security services, postal services and offices related to emergency services, their employees, vehicles will remain out of the purview of the restrictions, the circular added.

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association said that due to the new restrictions, long distance buses won’t be able to enter or exit the capital.