Shops, malls to close from Wednesday

Amid growing concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus, shop owners yesterday announced that they will keep all markets and shopping malls across the country shut for a week from Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, the government has postponed HSC examinations and suspended entry of all foreign nationals through 11 land ports from India for an indefinite period as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.

The decisions came as the country yesterday recorded three more Covid-19 cases, taking the total number to 27. So far two persons have died from the virus.

Last night, Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association, said they decided to shut markets and shopping malls as the number of customers dropped sharply amid coronavirus scare.

However, the decision will not be applicable to kitchen markets, grocers' shops and medicine stores. Those will remain open as usual.

"Sales have plummeted. As a result, overhead costs are rising," Helal told The Daily Star.

Besides, many of the salespersons are unwilling to work due to the virus scare, he mentioned.

Helal said there are around 250 markets in the capital and about 5,500 across the country.

In a statement, the association said, "We made the decision so that shop owners and staffers don't contract the virus."

It also urged all retailers and wholesalers not to increase the price of any product.

The association mentioned that all shopping malls and markets, including the New Market, in the capital will be shut from March 25 to 31.

Zakir Hossain, general secretary of Bangladesh Supermarket Owners' Association, said the superstores will remain open.

"We have not taken any decision to shut superstores… We will close those only if the government asks us to do so."

"People buy groceries and essentials there. If those are closed, they will be affected," he mentioned.

HSC EXAMS POSTPONED

"We have postponed the HSC and its equivalent examinations scheduled for April 1," Ziaul Haque, chief of the Inter-board Coordination Committee, told The Daily Star.

"New schedule will be published soon," added Ziaul, also chairman of Dhaka Education Board.

Abul Khair, senior information officer at the education ministry, said the next dates for the exams will be announced in the first week of the next month.

Earlier on March 16, the government had closed all educational institutions and coaching centres across the country till March 31 as part of efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

More than a million students are expected to sit for the HSC and its equivalent examinations. The exams were expected to be held at over 9,000 educational institutions under 10 education boards -- eight general boards, a madrasa board and a technical education board.

ENTRY SUSPENDED AT LAND PORTS

Entry of all foreign nationals through 11 land ports from India has been suspended for an indefinite period to prevent the spread of coronavirus, said a circular issued by the home ministry.

The land ports include Benapole, Bhomra, Banglabandha, Burimari, Rowmari, Darshana, Nakugaon, Tamabil and Sheola.

According to the circular, export and import through these ports will continue.

BANGLADESH RAILWAY

Bangladesh Railway officials said that from tomorrow people will be able to buy advance tickets five days, instead of 10 days, before the date of journey.

"We made the decision in case we need to suspend the railway services," said Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Shamsuzzaman.

He also said no decision on suspending the services had been made yet.

The railway DG mentioned that the number of passengers dropped by 25 to 30 percent due to virus scare.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority suspended till march 31 taking biometric data on vehicle owners for registration of their vehicles, according to a BRTA circular.

NO LATE FEE FOR GAS, ELECTRICITY BILLS

The power, energy and mineral resources ministry has instructed Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to allow consumers to pay in May the electricity bills for three months from February without any late fees and surcharge.

It also asked the BERC to allow people to pay gas bills in June for four months from February without late fees and surcharge.

In its circulars, the ministry asked people not to crowd banks to pay bills.