Dhaka, May 4 -- The public administration ministry announced the move on Monday.

Bangladesh reported its first cases of the coronavirus on Mar 8. Since then, the virus has sickened more than 10,000 and killed 182 others.

The government enforced a nationwide shutdown of offices, schools and public transport, which it termed a 'holiday', on Mar 26 and has since prolonged it in phases, most recently until May 5.

The latest shutdown period will encompass the public holiday for Buddha Purnima on May 6 along with the weekend of May 8 and 9 followed by another on May 14 and 15.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bdnews24....