Dhaka | Bangladesh authorities have ordered the closure of international and national offices and transport for eight days from Wednesday, amid the surge in COVID-19 contamination, according to a government statement on Monday.
The South Asian country, with a population of 160 million, has recorded 684,756 cases and 9,739 deaths, as new daily infections have increased sevenfold and daily deaths have more than doubled in the past month.
“All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices and financial institutions will be closed,” the government said in its press release.
According to him, this measure should end on April 21 at midnight.
“There is no other solution than to do this in order to stem the outbreak of COVID-19,” said Farhad Hossain, Minister of Public Administration, shortly before the enactment of the measure.
Hospitals in cities across the country say they are overwhelmed by the upsurge in contamination.
International and domestic flights will be interrupted as well as maritime, rail and bus services, the authorities added.
All stores except food businesses will also be closed, but authorities will allow factories to remain open if companies can provide their own transportation service.
Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia, 74, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, despite being detained at her residence. The former prime minister, who was elected twice, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for corruption, but has been allowed to remain under house supervision in Dhaka since last year.