Bangladesh has decided in principle to extend the nationwide lockdown from May 17, a move that is expected to contain Covid 19 spread, which may otherwise go up after the Eid celebrations.

The Sheikh Hasina government imposed national restrictions on public movement on April 5, after which a strict lockdown was put in place from April 14. The lockdown was later extended till May 16, Dhaka Tribune (DT) reported.

According to the newspaper, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said that Coronavirus cases could go up after the Eid festival as large number of people have gone home from urban centres while many went out shopping defying health rules.

“The government is also working to give the police magistracy power by amending the Infectious Diseases (Prevention, Control and Eradication) Act-2018 to make people wear masks due to lack of manpower to conduct mobile courts,” the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, the South Asian nation celebrated Eid-Ul Fitr—the biggest festival in the country– without any outdoor programmes, much like last year when the Covid 19 pandemic had just hit the world. “The devotees are celebrating the festival for the second  consecutive year amid the nationwide restrictions to choke the spread of  Covid-19 infection,” DT said in another report.