Dhaka, May 18 -- "This isn't safe and must be stopped," the IGP said on Sunday as a large number of people began travelling back to their ancestral homes ahead of the Eid.

All must properly follow the health advices of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to avoid coronavirus infection, he added.

Dhaka is currently the epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic in Bangladesh with the number of infections by far the highest.

The government has ordered all to spend the Eid days this year wherever they are now in an effort to stem the spread of the virus pandemic.

The police are enforcing the health directives and they started sending back travellers bound for southern districts to Dhaka.

IGP Benazir spoke to police officials via video conferencing.

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