General holidays to be announced in some areas of capital

The government will announce some areas as ‘red zones’ on small scale in the capital to stem the spread of coronavirus.

As soon as the list of red zones comes, the Ministry of Public Administration will declare general holidays in the areas.

According to sources of the Public Administration, there is a process for declaring an area as red zone. At first, the civil surgeon will assess infected area. Then, he will take a decision after discussing with the district administration, law enforcement agencies, and representatives including Member of Parliament (MP). After reaching a decision, they will seek permission from the health directorate. If the health directorate gives permission, it will apply for general holidays to the public administration. Then, the Ministry of Public Administration will announce red zone and general holidays.

When asked, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said hopefully, we will be able to declare red zones and general holidays in the capital soon. There are many important offices and industries in the capital. Besides, we have to fix the management. Once the list is available, red zones on small scale and general holidays will be declared in several areas of the capital.

He further said as it is an administrative matter, the list of red zones and the announcement of holidays are being ordered from the Ministry of Public Administration. However, the Health Ministry is involved in it, they will check and select the list.

‘Moreover, the Ministry of Local Government also has work, the Ministry of Relief may have work. Then the red zone is implemented by forming a committee,’ he added.

Though red zones and general holidays have been declared in different districts across the country, the lockdown has been enforced experimentally at East Rajabazar only, despite being the capital highly infected. Besides, Wari area is being declared as red zone. Even though there are many areas in the capital infected by coronavirus, these have yet not been declared as red zones.

Meanwhile, a total of 46 areas of different districts have been announced as red zones across the country so far.


Dhaka/Naymuddin/AKA