The government has decided to allow shops, markets and shopping malls to reopen from April 25.
They will be allowed to remain open from 10am to 5pm daily following strict health guidelines.
The cabinet division on Friday issued a gazette notification announcing the decision.
Considering the livelihood of a large number of people, shops, markets and shopping malls will be allowed to reopen from April 25, and legal action will be taken if hygiene rules are not maintained properly, the notice said.
The management of the markets, shops and shopping malls must take necessary steps to maintain health guidelines in their premises, it added.
Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association thanked the government for its decision, saying it would issue instructions to all shop owners, asking to maintain necessary hygiene rules strictly to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Helal Uddin, president of the association, said, “We have a meeting later today (Friday) where we’ll give strict health and hygiene directives to shop owners across the country."
Both customers and sellers would be required to wear masks, wash their hands, and maintain social distancing as part of the directives, he told The Business Post.
The government imposed a 'loose' nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain the spike in both coronavirus infections and fatalities.
After a weeklong lockdown, the government enforced a fresh one with harsher measures by closing all shops and markets across the country from April 14 to April 21. Later, the lockdown was extended for another week till April 28.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh registered 98 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours till 8:00 am on Thursday, taking its tally to 10,781.
Besides, 4,014 people tested positive during the same period, bringing the total number of infections to 736,074.
