Coronavirus: Bangladesh extends lockdown until May 5

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh has extended a nationwide lockdown till May 5 as part of measures to stem the spread of coronavirus pandemic, local media reported.

“Holidays will be extended till May 5 from April 26. The government will issue a gazette in this regard tomorrow [Thursday],” daily the Jugantor reported citing State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Farhad Hossain as saying.

The minister, however, added that May 6 is also a government holiday on account of the religious rituals of the country’s minority Buddhist community, or Buddhist Full Moon holiday.

The South Asian nation of more than 165 million population