Associate Professor Dr Rizwanul Bari of Shaheed M Monsur Ali Medical College, who was diagnosed with coronavirus, was flown from Bogura to Dhaka on Sunday by Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).

BAF has always been providing emergency air transport and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) assistance in aid to civil power and continuing various activities to affirm its commitment to meet all emergency needs in any national crisis.

In line with this, Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force provided necessary guidance to carry out the MEDEVAC mission.

Coronavirus infected Dr Bari was flown to Dhaka in a BAF MI-171SH helicopter.

Later, he was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for better treatment, said an Inter Service Public Relation (ISPR) press release.

Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 2,487 new cases, 34 deaths

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mohammad Mahbub Ali said on Sunday that the construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will finish on time.

He said this while inspecting the progress of construction work of the terminal and the newly-constructed building of the internal terminal of the airport.

Piling work is underway after completion of land development for the construction of the terminal, said the state minister.

Out of 3,000 pilings, the works of 464 have already been completed, Ali said.

So far 6.4 percent of the total work has been completed since the inauguration of the third terminal by the Prime Minister on December 28 last year, he added.

“The progress is satisfactory. We hope that after its completion by June 2023, it will be possible to open for it passengers’ use.”

He said the development work of the aviation sector of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is progressing at an indomitable pace.

Apart from the construction of the third terminal, the development work of Sylhet MAG Osmani International Airport and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattagram are also underway, said the state minister.

Work is underway to upgrade Cox's Bazar and Syedpur airports to convert these into international airports. Other works will be started as soon as the land acquisition is complete in Syedpur. In addition, various development works of all domestic airports are underway, he added.

Also read: Construction work on Dhaka airport’s new terminal likely to begin in Dec

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed public universities to prepare lists of indigent students who will need assistance to buy smartphones for attending online classes during the coronavirus crisis.

UGC also asked the universities to utilise funds allocated for research and properly follow employment rules.

In a media statement on Sunday, UGC said that it had sent three separate letters to the vice-chancellors of 45 public universities in this regard.

UGC noted that according to the rules and regulations, no teacher, officer or employee working in the university can be directly or indirectly involved in any other governmental or non-governmental organisation or personally run any business or any for-profit organisation without the permission of the respective authority.

It said it has learned that some of the teachers, officers and employees of some public universities are working in various government and non-government organisations without the prior approval of the authorities, while some of them are also running private businesses without the prior approval of the authorities.

Such actions are a clear violation of the employment rules, the statement said.

The VCs have been requested to ensure proper implementation, follow-up and observance of the rules and regulations of the respective universities.

Meanwhile, UGC also requested proper utilisation of the fund public universities get for research work.

The concerned authorities of the University invite the research projects. They allocate funds to the projects that get the final nod.

But UGC said that although there is a rule to spend research fund on research works, some universities are violating this rule, which has been observed by the commission.

It urged the VCs to ensure that the funds are properly spent only on the activities of the selected research projects.

Also read: UGC approves Tk 8,485.12 crore budget for 46 public universities

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque on Sunday said that the government will review the overall situation, including the flood’s impact on aush and aman paddy, before deciding to import rice.

“Currently, there’s no fear of food shortage in the country,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at an online seminar on "Food Security in Covid-19 Situation: Is Bangladesh Going to Face Rice Deficit?" organised by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

Razzaque said the ongoing floods have caused a lot of damage to aush and aman paddy in many areas.

“A decision to import rice will be taken if the yield of aman is not good and the floods are prolonged,” he said, assuring that all sorts of activities are underway in agriculture to deal with the damage caused by the ongoing floods.

Every effort has been made to increase production during the aman season. Besides, preparations are being taken to increase production of all crops in the Robi season so that food security is ensured while dealing with the adverse effects of coronavirus, Amphan, and ongoing floods, the minister said.

Also read: Offer easy loans to create entrepreneurs: Razzaque to banks

The numbers of both corona-infected people and deaths in Bangladesh have declined, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday. 

"About 60-70 percent of seats designated in hospitals for corona patients are empty. This proves the number of patients has declined," he said while talking to reporters at the secretariat. 

Most corona patients are now receiving treatment at home, he said adding: "Some 4,00-5,000 doctors are providing telemedicine services. Only critical patients are now being hospitalised.”

The minister claimed that the number of tests has declined due to flood and reluctance among people. "There’s no shortage of kits."

In many districts, Zahid mentioned, there has been zero Covid-19 death rate and the number of infections is very low.  

"Considering all this, it can be said the number of patients as well as deaths is declining in Bangladesh," the minister added.

Asked about the drives at hospitals, the minister said the investigations will continue to find out irregularities.  

"The search for irregularities at hospitals didn’t stop. Those will be taken care of based on joint discussions with the Home Ministry," Zahid added.

Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 2,487 new cases, 34 deaths