Representational image.

Bangladesh has prohibited the presence of more than 25 per cent of employees in government offices as part of a Covid-19 containment measure.

The decision came after Bangladesh reopened its economy, ending a two-month nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the deadly infection.

“Our primary goal is not to put employees at risk of infection. So we will only do the necessary work with a minimum of employees,” bdnews24 quoted state minister for public administration Farhad Hossain as saying.

“We want that no more than 25 per cent of the employees will be in offices at any given time. Another 25 per cent can work remotely, meaning 50 per cent of the employees will be connected to work,” he added.

Bangladesh has lifted the shutdown and reopened all government offices with reduced capacity while resuming public transport services under similar guidelines.

“If someone comes to the office and finishes up work in two hours, he or she will not have to wait until 5 p.m. If that person leaves work by 11 a.m., someone else may come in and work,” Hossain said.

“If offices require more than 25 per cent of the employees to work, they can come in after the departure of those who came in at 9 a.m,” he added.

Bangladesh has registered 22 new COVID-19 fatalities, raising the death toll to 672.

The COVID-19 caseload surged to 49,534 after 2,381 positive tests were confirmed on Monday, according to the health directorate.