Circular to keep 18 ministries, divisions open withdrawn

The public administration ministry has withdrawn its earlier circular to keep 18 ministries and divisions, and their agencies open on a limited scale during the ongoing shutdown.

However, government offices, which are involved in emergency work and services, will remain open on a limited scale, the ministry said.

The development came at a time when several hundred garment factories in and around Dhaka and eight state-run jute mills in Khulna-Jashore industrial belt partially resumed activities yesterday, despite experts warning that doing so will increase the risk of virus transmission at a wider scale.

The ministry on April 23 extended the ongoing shutdown of most public and private offices till May 5 to slow the spread of novel coronavirus, according to a circular.

However, factories, including pharmaceuticals and export-oriented manufacturing units, can resume operation by ensuring health safety of workers, it said.

On the same day, the ministry issued a separate circular saying that 18 ministries and divisions, and their agencies will operate on a limited scale during the Covid-19 shutdown.

Those included the Prime Minister's Office, and the ministries of health and family welfare, agriculture, commerce, food, LGRD and co-operatives, and disaster management and relief.

Prime Minister Office, in a circular on April 23, said the office will reopen on April 26 and director generals, project directors, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and all same rank officials were asked to attend office regularly.

The circular, which is available at PMO's website, however said presence of supporting staffers should not be more than 25 per cent.

Public Administration Secretary Shaikh Yusuf Harun yesterday said that they have already withdrawn the circular centring reopening 18 ministries and divisions, and it was not available on the ministry's website.

"However, government offices involved in emergency work and services will operate on a limited scale," he told The Daily Star.

The government has been enforcing the shutdown from March 25. Most government and private offices remained closed, and operation of all types of public transport, except vehicles involved in transporting goods and emergency services, remained suspended.