today 18 Ministries-depts to be resumed

The government’s 18 ministries and departments are being resumed after 31 days amid the general holiday announced by the government to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Offices under these ministries and departments will run in the limited form from Sunday.

The ministries and departments are: Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce Ministry, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Public Administration, Department of Health Services, Department of Health Education and Family Welfare, Department of Public Safety, Department of Security and Services, Ministry of Information, Local Government Department, Department of Rural Development and Cooperatives, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Shipping  Ministry, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Earlier, the first general holiday was declared from March 26 to April 4. Later it was extended in three phases till April 25.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a circular announcing the holiday from April 26 to May 5, subject to various instructions in the latest fifth step.

According to the notification, besides 18 ministries and departments, emergency services such as electricity, water, gas, fire service, cleaning activities, telephone, and internet will not be covered under the general holiday.

Transportation of agricultural products, fertilizers, pesticides, food, industrial products, medical equipment, emergency and daily necessities and raw markets, food, drug stores, and hospitals are also outside the scope of the holiday.

The office can be kept open in case of an emergency during the holidays. If necessary, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and export-oriented industries will be allowed to be run on. Considering the needs of the people, the instruction given by Bangladesh Bank to introduce a limited banking system during holidays will remain in force.

sunbd/sks