The district administration has been given the authority to enforce lockdown in their areas if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates there, the cabinet secretary said on Monday.
The government has already given such instruction to the local administration, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said at a press briefing after a virtual Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
“The deputy commissioners, civil surgeons, chairmen and mayors have already been told that if they think the situation would be harmful (deteriorate) in any place, they can close down the area,” said Anwarul Islam.
The ongoing lockdown in Chapainawabganj was enforced as per the suggestion from the field administration, he said.
“We’ve told other district administrations that if they think necessary, they can enforce a lockdown there. They also have authority to enforce lockdown only in the bordering areas, not keeping the entire district under it (the restriction),” he said.
Anwarul Islam made the remarks in reply to a question over the suggestion of the Directorate General of Health Services to bring seven bordering districts under the lockdown.
The prime minister joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other Cabinet members from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
END/UNB/MS/FH
