No plans to enforce lockdown in winter

The government has no plan right now to enforce lockdown once again for a potential second spell of Covid-19 in winter, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina however has given directives to enforce "no mask, no service" strictly and at massive scale at all government organisations.

She gave the directives while discussing the Covid-19 situation at the regular weekly cabinet meeting held at the secretariat.

Hasina chaired the meeting, joining in from Gono Bhaban through videoconference.

Later, cabinet secretary briefed journalists about the meeting at the secretariat.

"Today, there was also discussion on the second wave of novel coronavirus. The situation in the USA and Europe is very bad and most of the countries are enforcing lockdown," said Anwarul, adding that the situation of Bangladesh is not that bad compared to these countries.

"The prime minister said that our situation is comfortable but there is no scope of being complacent. She directed us to be cautious," said Anwarul adding if people use masks, infection could be contained.

The cabinet secretary said, "No mask, no service is needed to be implemented through social movement, campaign or legal enforcement. We've already given directives at all departments to ensure that people do not come out without wearing masks."

The cabinet meeting was held on five scheduled agenda, including activities of ministries and departments in last fiscal, final approval of The Gandhi Ashram (Board of Trustees) Act, 2020;  The Development Board Laws (Repeal) Act, 2020 and holiday list for 2021; as well as implementation and status of progress of different stimulus packages taken to recover country's economy following Covid-19 pandemic.

Anwarul said due to the Covid-19, the growth was 5.24 percent which was higher than many developed as well as Asian countries.

He said to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on the country's economy, the prime minister has declared Tk 1.20 lakh crore stimulus and financial recovery packages, which is 4.3 percent of GDP.

The cabinet secretary said remittance in 2019-20 was 10.87 percent higher than the 2018-19 fiscal. Foreign reserve stood  US$ 36.04 billion and revenue collection was Tk 2,62,806 crore.

Replying to a question, he said Covid-19 hit the country in March, that is why its impact was not huge in the last fiscal. "But its actual damage will be seen at the end of this fiscal," he added.

The cabinet yesterday also approved public holidays for next year. At least eight out of 22 public holidays next year will fall on weekends.

Though the date of Eid celebration largely depends upon moon sighting, it is assumed that next year Eid-ul-Fitr will be on May 14 and Eid-ul-Azha on July 21.

The largest festival of Hindu community, Bijoya Doshomi, will be on October 15.

Such holidays include the holidays on the occasion of national days, mourning days, religious festivals and special holidays.