Govt being stricter on making mask use mandatory

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the government had instructed mobile courts to be stricter to make wearing mask mandatory for everybody in preventing the second wave of coronavirus.

In reply to a query, he told this to the reporters after the cabinet meeting on Monday (November 23).

Earlier the meeting was held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The Secretary said, “The Prime Minister said to be stricter over the mask in unscheduled cabinet discussions. On Sunday (November 22), the divisional commissioners said they had been imposing fines for the past seven days. Thousands of people across the country were fined for not wearing masks yesterday too. The government will see this week, motivate people more, then go for stronger punishment.”

Asked by reporters about the harsh punishment, the cabinet secretary said the fines could increase. Now a person is being fined Tk 500 to Tk 1,000. It may be increased to Tk 5,000. Those who lead mobile courts will also carry masks with them so that people can be given masks with fines.