Ensure use of mask, commerce ministry to trade bodies

Dhaka (Nov 9, 2020): The government has taken a tough stance to ensure that people wear masks when they go out of their homes.

As part of the move, the commerce ministry today issued a notice asking trade bodies and associations to implement the decision.

In a similar statement, Islamic Foundation has also issued a directives calling upon people to use masks when they will go to mosques or other religious places.

The commerce ministry in the notice said the people are seen least bothered about wearing mask at public places and called upon the authorities concerned to take necessary step to enforce the decision.

On October 25, the government made wearing masks mandatory for seeking services apprehending the possible second wave of coronavirus outbreak in the winter season in the country.

Meanwhile, amid the government’s efforts to raise awareness over the necessity of wearing of masks, the local administration in Khulna conducted separate drives in different parts of the city this morning and arrested 50 people for not wearing mask.

The mobile court also fined eight people Tk 6,500 during the drives in the city.

Additional deputy commissioner of Khulna, Yusuf Ali, said the government has taken strict measures to contain the possible second wave of Covid-19 and those who would be found without masks will be sentenced to jail.

The government has directed people of all faiths to wear masks while visiting places of worship, including mosques, temples and churches across the country, apprehending a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic might rip through Bangladesh during the southern hemisphere's winter that is almost here.

The Religious Affairs Ministry issued a notice in this regard today.

The ministry has issued such notices at different times making it compulsory to wear masks at all religious sites, it said.