The local administration announced closure of all the shopping malls in Thakurgaon again from Monday after reopening as shoppers and shopkeepers failed to maintain social distancing rules. It came into effect from Monday morning.
This was stated in a public circular signed by KM Kamruzzaman Selim on Sunday afternoon. Earlier, owners reopened their shopping malls and markets on May 10 after a month-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the reopening, the administration noticed that people flocking to the shopping malls without maintaining social distancing rules raising the risk of further spread of coronavirus.
However, several officials of the district administration and leaders of the district chambers and commerce tried for two days but could not control the buyers and sellers. The buyers disobeyed the instructions of the district administration and went shopping with their families, said deputy commissioner Dr. K M Kamruzzaman Selim.
Clothing stores, cosmetics and shoe stores will be closed from Monday. However, it is also mentioned in the notification that the shops of daily necessities, raw materials and drug stores will be free from this directive. Those shops will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of novel coronavirus is increasing in the tourist city of Cox’s Bazar. The authorities have now passed a directive to shut down shopping malls and shops in Cox’s Bazar again due to the increasing risk of spreading coronavirus. At the same time, it has also been decided to stop all types of transportation after 4 pm.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain said the order will be effective from 4 pm on Monday. It has been informed in a public notification signed by him.
The decision to open a limited number of shops and shopping malls in the district was taken keeping in view the hygiene and social distance guidelines to prevent the spread of corona, the public release said. However, the decision has been revoked because people are not adhering to the stipulated health guidelines and social distancing rules. As a result, the rate of coronavirus infection in the district is on the rise.
So, in this scenario, considering the overall health protection of the people of Cox's Bazar, prevention of coronavirus infection and risk of death, It was instructed to close shops and shopping malls at all upazila levels including the district
headquarters till re-order after discussions with the representatives of various departments including the health department. The order will be effective from 4 pm on May 18.
However, freight transport will be exempt from this directive. Raw goods market will also remain open and other government announced activities will continue. Strict action will be taken if these instructions are not followed.
It is to be mentioned that last Saturday (May 17), coronavirus was identified in the bodies of 24 people in a single day in the district. Among them six are from Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila, eight from Chakriya, one from Pekua, seven from Ukhia and one Rohingya refugee and one from Lama Upazila in Bandarban. As many as 175 patients were infected with coronavirus in Cox’s Bazar district till Saturday.
