Grocery shops to remain open till 4pm, restaurants allowed to sell Iftar: DMP

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued two instructions extending the timeframe of keeping the grocery shops in the city open till 4 pm instead of 2 pm and recognized restaurants to sell Iftar items amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

“The grocery shops of daily essentials located in different areas of the city will remain open until 4 pm instead of 2 pm,” the DMP said in a pressrelease.

However, the recognised kitchen markets and super shops in the capital will remain open from 6 am to 5pm as per the previous instruction, the release added.

It also said pharmacies and emergency services will remain out of the purview of this directive and added that the DMP sought cooperation from city dwellers in curbing the spread of the deadly virus.

Besides, the DMP also issued another instruction saying that the recognized restaurants in city can sell Iftar items from Tuesday, but none will be able to sell Iftar items on the footpaths.

The city dwellers would be able to purchase their Iftar items from the restaurants, the release said, adding but they could not have Iftar sitting in the restaurants.

Seeking cooperation to combat the crisis triggered by the global pandemic coronavirus, the DMP urged the sellers and buyers of Iftar items to maintain health regulations, including social distancing.