Eid shopping only at local markets

People in the capital will only be allowed to visit markets or shopping malls located within two kilometres of their residences and they have to carry proofs of their addresses in the form of identity cards or original copies of utility bills.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday issued the directive for the city dwellers when they will visit shopping malls and markets during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the directive signed by DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, shopping malls and shops can be kept open from 10:00am to 4:00pm as per the schedule announced by the government, but no hawkers or temporary roadside shops will be allowed.

The DMP also asked that automatic disinfection tunnels or chambers be installed at the entrance of every shopping mall, as well as thermal scanners to measure temperature of shoppers.

"Each store must have a separate temperature measurement system," reads the directive.

Every shopping mall should follow directives of the health ministry, including the provision of keeping hand sanitisers, and no buyers would be able to enter without wearing masks, the directive said, adding that vendors and store employees should also wear masks and hand gloves.

If anyone goes to market without masks, they will have to buy it before entering, said the DMP, adding that in front of every shopping mall, a banner with the warning "disregarding the health directives will cause life risk" should be put up.

Buyers and sellers should maintain a distance of at least one metre (about 40 inches) during entry, exit, and shopping at each shopping mall, and the mall authorities will not allow more customers to enter the store than can be accommodated while maintaining this distance, read the directive.

The DMP further asked to discourage the elderly, children, and sick persons (those who have heart disease, diabetes, and others) from visiting the shopping malls.

The market authorities will remind those who have finished their shopping by loudspeaker to leave to avoid unnecessary gathering, and the shopping malls have to have separate and clearly marked entry and exit points, according to the directive.

The shopping malls should have a disinfection system in the parking lot, and drivers should stay in their respective vehicles, read the directive.

The directive added that rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaws would be available on a limited scale for travel to shopping malls, but only two passengers could travel in the latter at a time and every passenger and driver would wear masks.

The government had earlier announced that shopping malls and shops can resume business from May 10, after a month and a half of a countrywide shutdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.