Don’t go out after 6pm

Anyone defying the order will face penalties, it said.

"Everyone is requested not to leave home unless it is really necessary," the gazette said.

Announcements were made on loudspeakers at different mosques in the capital, urging people to stay indoors after dark.

locals put up a barricade on Hussaini Dalan road in Old Dhaka to stop traffic entering their area. A notice hung on the barricade says entry of outsiders is prohibited. Photo: Anisur Rahman

This is the third time the government extended the nationwide shutdown, which officials prefer to call general holidays.

On March 23, the government announced closure of all public and private offices from March 26 to April 4. On April 1, it was extended to April 11. The second extension was announced four days later.

Garment factories and educational institutions will also remain closed until April 25.

In the gazette notification, the ministry said the holiday should not be considered as a regular one and people should strictly follow the directives to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

People must stay at home to be safe and to curb transmission of the virus, it added.

Government officials and employees in divisions, districts, upazilas and unions will have to stay at their workplaces to perform their duties, it said.

People engaged in electricity, water, and gas supply, fire service, cleaning activities, telephone and internet services and the media are exempt from the restrictions.

Transportation of fertilisers, pesticides, newspapers, food items, industrial products, medical equipment, emergency and essential goods are outside the purview of the restrictions.

Kitchen market, food and drug stores are also exempt.

Production at export-oriented factories may continue if they are working to meet deadlines.

The Bangladesh Bank would issue directives on limited-scale banking during the holidays, it said.

"Movement of... trains, buses, rickshaws and vans would be allowed in phases, considering the livelihood of people if the situation improves."

RMG FACTORIES CLOSED UNTIL 25TH

The decision to keep the factories closed was announced in a statement issued by Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

The statement was posted in a WhatsApp message group of journalists yesterday.

Any factory owner willing to pay the workers before 25th should inform the BGMEA, BKMEA, and Industrial Police beforehand, it said.

The associations earlier suggested that their member companies disburse the workers' salary of March by April 16.

The factory owners earlier announced that factories would open amid the shutdown, forcing thousands of workers to come to the cities. They returned home after the owners changed their decision following widespread criticism.

SCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL RAMADAN

The educational institutions will remain closed until April 25, said Abul Khair, public relation officer of the education ministry.

Secondary schools may not open until May 30, because of the Ramadan, May Day, Buddha Purnima and Eid-ul-Fitr, he said.

Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, "We may revise our decisions if the situation improves. You will all know."

The first half-yearly exams at primary schools have been suspended due to the shutdown.

The exams were supposed to be held between April 15 and April 23.

"We will take the exams later," Fasiullah, director general of Directorate of Primary Education, said.

Over 1 lakh primary schools, madrasas, and kindergartens have over 1.74 crore students across the country.