Shops, markets shut down in Manikganj for violating health guidelines

Manikganj district administration has announced the closure of shopping centres and shops of the district from today, after reopening on Sunday.

The decision came as the shopkeepers failed to maintain the government directives, said a public notice issued by SM Ferdous, deputy commissioner of Manikganj yesterday.

The government decided to reopen shopping malls, all types of shops and other businesses from May 10 on a limited scale -- maintaining health guidelines during the shutdown -- considering Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

According to the public notice, the shops were allowed to open on condition of maintaining health guidelines, including social distancing, but they could not fulfill those properly.

Considering public health, the administration announced closing of all kinds of shops and businesses in the district to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

However, shops selling daily essentials, kitchen markets and medicine stores will remain out of purview of the closure, said the notice.

Meanwhile, Bogura administration again shut down the New Market in town due to the same reason.

Executive Magistrate Maruf Afzal Razon told our Bogura correspondent, "I have visited the market this morning and found that no shopkeeper and customer is maintaining the heath instructions issued by the government while selling and buying goods."

Bogura Deputy Commissioner (DC) Foyej Ahmed said, "We are also monitoring the other markets in the district."