National

Bangladesh goes into 8-day lockdown

Bangladesh on Wednesday went into an eight-day strict lockdown (restrictions) imposed in a bid to limit the novel coronavirus spread.

Starting from 6am today, the lockdown will remain effective to April 21 midnight.

Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification declaring a strict lockdown for eight days from April 14 to 21 following a relaxed lockdown from April 5 to 13.

According to the notification, the public and private offices, and public transports services will remain closed but the factories open following the health guidelines issued to curb the virus.

Initially the government ordered the banks to close but the Cabinet Division on Tuesday asked the authorities to ensure banking services for special purposes during the lockdown.

Bangladesh has been witnessing alarming rise in coronavirus infections for the last couple of days that prompted the government to take measures like lockdown aims to prevent the highly contagious virus.

The country, however, first reported its coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and since then its struggle on to control outbreak of the pathogen.

RMM/SU