Govt mulling tougher measures on mask use, says cabinet secretary
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at the cabinet meeting today, asked all concerned to be tougher in ensuring the compulsory use of masks.
"Force people to wear masks… Also motivate them, saying that if you (people) don't use masks, no vaccine and medicine can protect you," Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam quoted the premier as saying at the weekly cabinet.
He added: "The mobile courts have been instructed to be stricter and, if necessary, to increase fines for not using masks at public places."
The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official Gono Bhaban residence while her cabinet colleagues were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat through virtual media.
"At the meeting, divisional commissioners stated that thousands of people were also fined yesterday for not using masks," cabinet secretary mentioned.
Hearing the news, the prime minister categorically said, "See one more week and motivate people more… Then we have to go for tougher punishment against the violators."
Asked what the "tougher punishment" would be, Islam said the fines may increase to Tk 5,000.
The cabinet secretary also said, "Apart from running the mobile courts, they will also donate masks."
He said, "The secretaries of religion and education ministries have also been asked to run campaigns on a massive scale in their respective fields about using masks extensively."
He added that the media is also playing a very important role in this regard.
Anwarul Islam said mobile courts were conducted at 37 places in Dhaka city yesterday and imposed fines -- from Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 -- at different places.
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