The current restrictions of Covid-19 lockdown will remain effective for next two days - Monday and Tuesday, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

Meanwhile, the long-distance passenger transportation will remain suspended, on 12-13 April, until further notice.

A 7-day relaxed lockdown, which is going to end at midnight today, failed to ensure full implementation of health safety rules. Offices and factories were open, and public transport services were plying during the lockdown.

Later, the government decided to enforce a seven-day strict lockdown from 14 April as Covid-19 infections keep surging with each passing day.

Seven-day strict lockdown from 14 April
Except for emergency service providers, all government, semi-government and private organisations, shops and factories will remain shut during the weeklong lockdown, according to government policymakers.

Bangladesh reported 77 more deaths from the novel coronavirus on Saturday, which is the highest since the pandemic hit the country last year.

With the new fatalities, the death toll reached 9,661 in the country. The Covid-19 caseload now stands at 6,78,937 with an infection rate of 20.49%.