Violation of home quarantine directive: 6 returnees fined in Shariatpur, Manikganj

Six Bangladeshis who returned from four different countries -- Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Italy – have been fined by mobile courts in Shariatpur and Manikganj districts for not abiding by the government mandated self-quarantine of fourteen days for all foreign returnees.

Among them, two returnees from Italy and one from Saudi Arabia were fined in Shariatpur, while three expatriates from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Australia each were fined different amounts during drives in Manikganj, our correspondents report quoting officials.

In Shariatpur, a mobile court led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahabur Rahman Sheikh fined one Italy returnee Tk 25,000 this evening for roaming around freely without adhering to the government's directive of 14-day mandatory quarantine, the UNO told The Daily Star.

The returnee came to visit a relative in the Sadar upazila after coming from Italy on March 14 instead of going to his home in Lonshing village under Noria upazila in the district, the UNO added.

Another Italy returnee was fined Tk 50,000 by a mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (land) Saiful Islam for a similar offence in Chakadh area under Noria upazila this evening.

He returned from Italy on March 6, the official said.

Earlier yesterday, an expatriate in Saudi Arabia was fined Tk 5,000 by a mobile court led by UNO Md Mahbubur Rahman Sheikh for the same violation.

The fines were imposed as per Section 269 of the Penal Code, the officials said.

A total of 210 returnees from foreign countries have been placed on home quarantine in Shariatpur, according to the district's civil surgeon's office.

In Manikganj, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Gheor upazila fined one person who returned from Australia yesterday Tk 15,000. The man was fined for violating the home quarantine rule during a mobile court drive in Kushunda village of the upazila.

In another upazila – Saturia -- UNO Ashraful Alam conducted a raid in Madhyarouha village and fined an Iraq returnee Tk 10,000 on the same grounds, our Manikganj correspondent reports quoting the official.

He returned on March 6 and was fined because he was roaming around in his locality defying the directives, the official said.       

Earlier on Sunday evening, a Saudi Arabia returnee was fined Tk 10,000 by another mobile court.

A total of 327 expatriates are currently in home-quarantine in the district, said Dr Anwarul Amin Akhand, civil surgeon of Manikganj.      

The cabinet yesterday decided that all those arriving from abroad must stay in 14-day quarantine or else face legal action.