Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Sunday said the government has decided not to extend the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions from February 22.
"A clear instruction was given to open schools (secondary and higher educational institutions) from February 22 while primary schools on March 1 as no new Covid-19 restrictions will be imposed, but all will have to be sincere in wearing masks," he said while briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while her cabinet colleagues were present at the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat.
The cabinet secretary said the authorities concerned were instructed to ensure so that everyone uses masks in any programme and gathering.
Noting that a programme was taken to vaccinate one crore people on February 26 next across the country, he said the Cabinet requested the media to circulate its news massively.
He said the field administration including DCs, SPs and Civil Surgeons as well as mayors, chairmen, other local government representatives and men of political parties were asked to campaign massively so none would remain out of the vaccination coverage after February 26.
Besides, the Health Ministry is mulling to vaccinate the children aged under 12, gathering experiences from other countries.
On January 13 last, the government imposed 11-point Covid-19 restrictions till February 7 amid the growing concern over the transmission of Omicron, a new variant of coronavirus, in the country. Later the restrictions were extended till February 21.
The Cabinet approved in principle the draft of Bank and Financial Institution Deposit Safety Act, 2022 in a bid to ensure security to the clients' deposited money in all financial institutions including banks and leasing companies.
"If any leasing company or financial institute winds up or become bankrupt, a client will get maximum Taka 2 lakh against their deposits from the fund deposited in the Bangladesh Bank by the company or financial institute as security money," said Anwarul Islam.
He said the clients need to be careful about depositing money in other company or institute except bank as the government will provide security to maximum Taka 2 lakh. "If the money can be recovered from them (the company or institute concerned), then the clients will get their remaining money," he added.
The meeting also approved in principle the draft of Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (Amendment) Act, 2021 aiming to some minor changes to the existing law.
Moreover, the Cabinet approved retrospectively the draft of an agreement titled "Technical Cooperation Agreement" signed between Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and Directorate General of Civil Aviation, France.
The Cabinet cancelled two decisions taken by the Advisory Council in 2007, including one to make Bangladesh Television Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.
According to the proposal of the Information Ministry, this amendment is not required anymore now, said the Cabinet Secretary.
Another decision is related to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, which was taken to hand over the charge of some hospitals to non-government organisations in a view to curtail the expenditures.
Source: BSS