Police gear up for strict lockdown  

The Police Headquarters directed all the unite chiefs of police to enforce all instructions of the government regarding the week-long strict lockdown from Wednesday to flatten the sharp resurgence in Covid-19 cases and deaths.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed issued the order to the high officials in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, police sources confirmed The Business Standard. 

The IGP instructed the officials to go for stern action against the people who will violate the restrictions. 

 According to the instructions

Police will increase surveillance across the country and support the district administrations and mobile courts during the lockdown.

Nobody will be allowed to come out of their homes without a valid reason and will not be allowed to violate the government's directives. 

Police will set up check posts at the entry and exit points to and from every city to control the movement. Besides, police will seal the connecting roads to control the people's movement. 

Meanwhile, IGP Dr Benazir Ahmed warned against any unnecessary movement amid nationwide lockdown. 

He said, "We don't want to see anyone on the streets and outside during the lockdown from tomorrow. Everyone should follow the restrictions willingly, rather than under pressure. If the restrictions are not followed, the whole of Bangladesh will have to be put in isolation."

He made the remarks while launching the "Police Movement Pass" apps at Rajarbagh Police Lines on Tuesday. 

There were around 6 lakh hits in the first six hours since the launching of the app at around 12.30pm.

Around 60,000 people could complete registration and around 30,000 passes have been issued by 6.30pm, Assistant Inspector General Sohel Rana informed TBS.

"Police will monitor the lockdown like the previous year," said the IGP. 

Millions of people left Dhaka last year. This time, people are also leaving the capital for the last several days which is not the right thing and morally very unjust acts, he said.

He said, "During the lockdown, no one will be allowed to come out without a movement pass. However, journalists do not need any movement pass."  

The government on Monday announced a set of restrictions to be imposed during the lockdown from 14-21 April.

Except for banks and garments factories, all government, semi-government, autonomous, financial, and private offices will remain closed; public transports will remain suspended; and markets and shopping centres will remain shuttered during the seven days of strict restrictions.

However, the sales of everyday essentials will be allowed in open spaces from 9am to 3pm and export-oriented factories will be allowed to remain open maintaining health guidelines and complying with a few other conditions.

Md Shahidulla, deputy commissioner of Uttara Division, told TBS that the police took all measures to enforce the lockdown. "If necessary, the police will seal the connecting roads to control the movement," he added.

 How to register for movement pass: 

Police have launched a "movement pass" for the people who will need to travel amid the lockdown.

For a pass, people need to fill up an online form by visiting: movementpass.police.gov.bd.

The Police Headquarters will issue the movement pass based on information of the applications and then applicants will be able to download the pass from the site.

The movement pass has to be shown to duty officers during the movement. 

Police took a similar initiative during the countrywide lockdown last year but failed to launch it on time.