Despite an alarming surge in the numbers of coronavirus infection and subsequent fatalities, the government on Tuesday decided to allow operations of shops, businesses, offices and transport on a limited scale from August 11.
However, it also extended the ongoing hard lockdown by five more days to August 10 in a bid to contain quick transmission of the deadly virus that has killed 21,397 people here so far.
The decisions were taken in a top-level meeting of the government on the coronavirus situation, chaired by Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque.
"Shops, malls, businesses and offices will be allowed to reopen from August 11. Public transport will also resume on a limited scale from the same day, (whose restriction) will be gradually lifted in phases," Mr Haque told the reporters after the meeting.
He said public transports will operate from districts by-rotation, and 30-40 per cent of the buses will be allowed to operate. District administrations will monitor it.
It was also decided that no one will be allowed to go to work, keep their shops open, or operate public transports without being vaccinated.
The minister noted that the government might, if needed, make outdoor presence without taking vaccine a punishable offence after August 11.
"The authorities concerned will get access to the vaccination database to ensure that no one over 18 years old is going outside home without being vaccinated," he added.
While talking to the reporters after the meeting, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said they decided to empower police to take legal actions against those, who would come out without wearing mask.
"For that, we need an ordinance, and we will be going towards that direction," he added.
Meanwhile, the decision on lifting the restrictions under the current circumstances frustrated healthcare experts, who thought it would cause dire consequences in the form of deteriorating the pandemic situation.
Health rights activist Dr Rashid-e-Mahabub expressed his surprise over the decision on lifting the restrictions at a time when the country was going through the most critical phase of the pandemic.
"I thought that the government will go for further tightening the situation. But unfortunately, that is not the case, and it has surprisingly decided to lift the restriction."
"It was not the right decision that could put the country in real danger," he added.
Expressing frustration, General Secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury said the government might have taken the decision considering people's livelihood.
"I know the ongoing lockdown is hurting people badly. But this is not the proper time to think in that way. We need to prioritise life first, as the pandemic situation is worsening fast," he added.
The pandemic situation in Bangladesh has been deteriorating since July, whereas 235 deaths and 15,776 new cases were reported in the 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, Bangladesh's death tally hit 21,397 and caseload 12,96,093.
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