In view of the increasing number of COVID-19 patients in the country, the home ministry yesterday decided to ban visitors at the Secretariat to prevent the transmission of the virus.

A circular in this respect has been sent to the ministries and divisions concerned, advising them not to issue gate passes to visitors, according to sources.

Security personnel barred all visitors from entering the Secretariat right from yesterday morning.

Additional secretary (political and ICT) of the Public Security Division under the home ministry, Abu Bakar Siddique, said they banned the visitors at the Secretariat as part of taking precautionary measures.

“Visitors having temporary passes won't be allowed inside. But journalists who have accreditation cards will  be allowed to enter,” he added. From March 12, the health

ministry has deployed a medical team to scan all employees and visitors through hand-held thermometers at the gates of the Secretariat. About 20,000 employees currently work in different ministries and divisions in the administrative hub. Besides, around 5,000 visitors daily enter the Secretariat with gate passes, issued by joint secretaries, additional secretaries, secretaries, and private secretaries to ministers.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr Faroque Ahmed, civil surgeon of the Secretariat, said employees of different ministries and divisions are being scanned at the gate before they are allowed inside.

Sources said the home ministry had issued over 1,200 temporary gate passes to freedom fighters, upazila chairpersons, mayors, retired government officials, and businessmen.