Bangladesh
Gazipur, Mymensingh, Keraniganj need strict lockdown: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Keraniganj should be put under strict lockdown as they reached the same coronavirus infection level of Narayanganj.
The minister made the comment at the daily briefing of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
He also emphasised increasing the number of tests and asked everyone to stay indoors to help the country prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Talking about the spread of coronavirus, he said the situation in Gazipur, Mymensingh and Keraniganj was bad.
"These areas need to be locked down strictly," he added.
So far, 53 COVID-19 cases were detected in Gazipur, 21 in Mymensingh, and 27 in Keraniganj.
Meanwhile, four more people died from coronavirus in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours till Wednesday, taking the death toll in the country to 50.
Besides, 219 more people tested positive for coronavirus during the period, taking the number of such cases in the country to 1,231.
Case filed against Bhola AL leader for smuggling govt rice
A leader of ruling Awami League’s Lalmohon upazila unit has been sued for smuggling government rice in Bhola.
Lalmohon upazila food officer filed a case against AL’s upazila unit forest and environment secretary Jashim Uddin for keeping 22 sacks of government rice at his warehouse after changing the sacks, said Meer Khairul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Lalmohon Police Station.
Police sources said they recovered 25 blank sacks with government seal for Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) while some were filling rice to sacks tagged as Noorjahan Rice at around 9:35pm on Tuesday.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Habibul Hasan Rumi said Jashim was fined Tk 20,500 for keeping government rice and blank sacks tagged with VGD seal at his warehouse.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday warned that the government will not tolerate the misuse of relief materials saying that those who are involved in irregularities must face action irrespective of their political affiliation.
Earlier on Monday, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder also said stern action would be taken against those involved in selling Open Market Sale (OMS) rice in the black market.
Dealer held with 171 sacks of rice in Natore
Police arrested a rice dealer with 171 sacks of rice meant for open market sale (OMS) at Tk 10 kg from Satpukuria of Singra upazila on Wednesday.
The arrestee is Md Asaduzzaman.
Nur-e-Alam, officer-in-charge of Singra Police Station, said they raided Asaduzzaman’s warehouse acting on a tip-off and seized the rice.
Later, they arrested him.
Youth suffering from fever, sore throat dies in Faridpur
A young man suffering from fever and sore throat died at his house at Sorilda village of Bhanga upazila on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Shahin Matubbor, 20, son of Harun Matubbor.
Bhanga Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Mohsin Uddin said Shahin was working at a private company in Dhaka and returned home 10 days ago.
His samples were collected for coronavirus test and his house has been put under lockdown, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Rakibul Islam.
Meanwhile, four more people died from coronavirus in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours till Wednesday, taking the death toll in the country to 50.
Besides, 219 more people tested positive for coronavirus during the period, taking the number of such cases in the country to 1,231.
Bangladesh to provide loans to returnee migrants
The government on Tuesday said it will arrange loans for returnee migrant workers to enable them pursue viable income activities, particularly in the agriculture sector.
The loans, to be arranged by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will be up to Tk 500,000-700,000.
Meanwhile, the government announced that every Bangladeshi returnee will be given Tk 5,000 on arrival at the airport as conveyance and the families of expatriate workers who died of coronavirus will be given Tk 300,000 each.
In continuation of two previous meetings to address the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, particularly repatriation of stranded Bangladeshi citizens abroad, the third meeting of the same nature was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which discussed the issues.
The meeting was presided over by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Chairman Civil Aviation Authority, secretaries and senior officials from different ministries, divisions, and agencies were present at the meeting.
A range of issues relating to repatriation, nationality verification, quarantine, relief for the expatriates, coordination among departments, sending medicines and medical equipment to friendly countries, post repatriation preparedness were discussed elaborately.
As a goodwill gesture, a medical team equipped with medical gadgets and medicine from the Armed Forces Division has been sent to help Kuwait in this critical moment.
Also, as a friendly gesture, Bangladesh is sending food stuff, medicines, medical equipment and other items to Maldives, the Foreign Ministry said.
A consignment of medicines and medical items will be sent to Bhutan shortly. Bangladesh is also planning to send similar items to other countries in need.
The Armed Forces Division (AFD), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been working to prepare quarantine centres at different places in Dhaka and other districts with a capacity of around 4,000 persons for institutional quarantine.
The AFD has been in close liaison with the Health Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh for post-arrival formalities including quarantine of the returnees.
Foreign Ministry will coordinate with CAAB for smooth airport reception and ease in landing permission of special flights carrying Bangladesh nationals from different countries.
More tests needed to prevent coronavirus spread: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday emphasised on raising the number tests to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
“If there are symptoms, then tests should be done. There are enough kits and more are being brought. When the number of tests will increase, coronavirus patients will be detected and it’ll be possible to prevent its spread,” he said at the daily health bulletin of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
Youth suffering from fever, cold dies in Sherpur
A young man suffering from fever, cold and breathing problems died in Sherpur early Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Laddu Mia, 32, son of Gendu Miah, a resident of Chapatoli area.
Seventeen houses were put under lockdown in the area as a precaution after his death.
COVID-19 Misinformation: UN chief for rejecting lies, nonsense
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said with common cause for common sense and facts, they can defeat COVID-19 -- and build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient world.
"Together, let’s reject the lies and nonsense out there," he said in a message on COVID-19 and Misinformation.
Woman killed by lightning strike in Natore
A woman died after being struck by lightning at Majhgram of Singra upazila on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Rokeya Begum.
She was struck by lightning while returning home from the field during storm, leaving her critically injured, said locals.
One new dengue case reported in 24 hours
One new dengue case was reported in the last 24 hours till 8am on Wednesday, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to daily update from the DGHS, seven patients are being treated at hospitals in the capital.
Since the beginning of this year, 288 dengue cases were reported. Of them, 280 had been discharged from hospitals.
Bangladesh experienced a massive dengue outbreak last year when 101,354 people were hospitalised across the country. Of them, 101,037 made full recovery.
According to official figures, the mosquito-borne disease killed 179 people in 2019.