An elderly man was fitted with a prosthetic leg at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital free of cost on Tuesday on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Orthopedic Surgery department of the hospital implanted the artificial leg with the assistance from Endolite Bangladesh.

Hospital director Brig Gen Mohammad Yunusur Rahman, deputy director Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, assistant director Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Pronoy Kanti and head of the Orthopedic department Dr Shankar Kumar Roy were, among others, present there.

A Mexico City borough announced Tuesday that Latin America's most famous re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ will be closed to the public for the first time in 177 years to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The lavish, detailed Easter-week Passion of Christ has been played out in the east-side borough of Iztapalapa since 1843, and in recent years has drawn a week-long total of about 2 million spectators.

But due to fears about the spread of the new coronavirus, Iztapalapa borough president Clara Brugada said that for the first time the event will be held in private with no spectators.

Brugada said the Passion of Christ will be re-enacted indoors with a smaller cast and will be "symbolic." All the actors are required by tradition to be borough residents.

Brugada said the event will be transmitted live so people can watch it at home. Ironically, the passion was first performed in 1843 after a cholera outbreak threatened the then-rural hamlet.

Iztapalapa was long ago swallowed by the urban growth of Mexico City. The Passion normally includes huge processions, public re-enactments with huge casts, culminating in the Good Friday re-enactment of the crucifixion in which ropes and a small ledge are used to guarantee the actors' safety.

Marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a special programme titled ‘Muktir Mahanayak’ (Great Hero of Freedom) was aired on all the television channels of Bangladesh on Tuesday night.

Amid the fear of the coronavirus pandemic, the programme was aired as a recorded version.

The two-hour festivity started with fireworks, marking the moment when Bangabandhu was born on March 17, 1920.

Opening the show, 100 children sang the National Anthem and ‘Dhonno Mujib Dhonno’, a song dedicated to the Father of the Nation.

Later, 100 renowned Bangladeshi singers performed the theme song of the ‘Mujib Borsho’ along with Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana.

Along with the speeches of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the programme featured video messages from Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres and OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef Al Othaimeen.
 
PM Sheikh Hasina recited a poem along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, commemorating fond memories with their father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) orchestrated a special performance to portray Bangabandhu's eventful life through a 45-minute theatrical choreographic performance on the life of Bangabandhu titled ‘Shotabdir Mahanayak’, featuring 1,000 artistes.
The performance was planned, directed and choreographed by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky. Eminent cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor recited poems on the background of this performance as the narrator.

A troupe of 100 musicians rendered a musical tribute orchestrated by musician Foad Nasser Babu.

Renowned British-Bangladeshi choreographer Akram Khan and company staged a special theatrical performance titled ‘Father: Vision of the floating world’.

The show ended with all 1,000 artists singing the song ‘Joy Mujiber Joy’, and a special lasers show following fireworks, live telecast from the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

 

Cinema halls all over Bangladesh are going into lockdown mode from March 18 to April 2 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh Film Producers-Distributors Association President Khorshed Alam Khosru announced on Monday.

While asked about the ongoing crisis and possibilities of a nationwide shutting down of the cinema halls, Khosru told UNB that the association has decided to close all the halls until April 2.

“As the virus passes from human to human in close proximity, people inside crowded cinema halls are at a higher risk to be contaminated with the virus, so we decided not to continue the shows in any of the halls including the cineplexes from March 18 to April 2,” Khosru told UNB.

If the crisis continues, the longevity of the decision can get extended until the situation gets normal – he further added.

 

The panic of coronavirus infection is grappling the world day by day. After evolving from seafood and/or poultry market in China, Coronavirus outbreak has extended to almost 70 countries around the world. Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the impact of coronavirus infection, death toll and recovery situation is not same everywhere. Read this article to get an overview of COVID-19 situation in some highly affected countries.

CoronaVirus Situation in China

Since March 14, 2.45 GMT+ about 80824 cases have been found in China. Hopefully about 65543 people have successfully recovered creating a beacon of hope for the whole world. Till date 3189 people have succumbed to death for COVID-19. Among the 12092 active cases, about 67% (8072) patients are taking treatment in mild conditions; whereas 33% (4020) patients are fighting for life in critical conditions.

Data Source: worldometers.info

CoronaVirus Situation in Italy

About 17660 people have been infected by coronavirus (COVID-19) in Italy since March 14, 2.45 GMT+. So far about 1266 people have lost their battle against coronavirus and 1439 people went home after successful recovery. Among the 14955 living infected people, about 91% (13627) patients are recovering with mild conditions. But 9% (1328) patients are still in critical conditions.   

CoronaVirus Situation in Iran

Among the Middle East countries Iran is facing significant outbreak of Coronavirus. So far 11364 cases have been registered in Iran. About 3529 people have discharged from hospital after recovery. Since March (14 2.45 GMT+), about 514 people have died from COVID-19. It is a matter of hope that all of the 7321 infected patients are currently stable with none in critical conditions.

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

CoronaVirus Situation in South Korea

Coronavirus has infected about 8086 people in South Korea. 714 people returned home after getting fully cured from coronavirus infection. So far, 72 people have lost their lives from COVID-19. About 99% (7241 cases) of currently infected 7300 patients are close to recovery with mild conditions; whereas only 1% (59) patients are in critical conditions since March 14, 2.45 GMT+.

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

CoronaVirus Situation in Spain

In Spain about 5232 people have been infected by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) since March 14, 2.45 GMT+. Among these patients about 193 cases reached the status of full recovery leaving 133 people dead. About 94% (4634) of the total 4906 active cases are waiting for recovery under mild conditions; whereas 6% (272) cases are still in the risk zone.

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

CoronaVirus Situation in France

Virulent effect of Coronavirus has also reached France affecting about 3661 people. Only 12 people have recovered COVID-19 since March 14, 2.45 GMT+. Compared to other countries the recovery rate is quite low; whereas the death toll has climbed at 79 people. Thankfully, 96% (3516) patients of the 3570 active cases are in mild conditions; whereas 4% (154) patients are still fighting against COVID-19 in critical situations.  

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

CoronaVirus Situation in United States

The United States, one of the most powerful countries of the world has also failed to escape the contagion of Coronavirus. About 2291 cases have been found in the USA since March 14, 2.45 GMT+. About 41 people have experienced effective recovery from COVID-19; whereas 50 people could not make it. Among the 2200 active cases, the lion’s share of (2190) patients are receiving medical treatment in mild conditions; whereas only 10 patients are left in critical conditions.

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Situation in Different Countries

Analyzing the current situation of coronavirus outbreak in seven countries (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, France and United States), it is obvious that COVID-19 is a life-threatening but curable disease. The highest number (80824) of Coronavirus occurrences has been found in China. With 17660 cases, Italy is currently considered as a second dangerous zone; which is followed by Iran (11,364 cases). Significant number of Coronavirus cases has been identified South Korea, Spain, and France; whereas the United States is comparatively less affected by the grave impact of COVID-19.

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

Though the death toll for COVID-19 is the highest in China, their recovery rate is great. Italy is experiencing the second fatal situation for COVID-19 deaths which is again followed by Iran. So far, the least number of people have died for Coronavirus infection in the United States.  

Data Source: worldometers.info (March 14, 2.45 GMT+)

Let’s turn the lens towards the total number of ‘active Coronavirus infected’ cases in these seven countries, to analyze the severity of the disease COVID-19. Till March 14, 2.45 GMT+, the data show that COVID-19 patients from Iran, United States and South Korea are experiencing superb recovery with a few critical cases. Italy, Spain and France have successfully limited the critical cases under 10%, which is certainly an optimistic situation for respective countries as well as the whole world. In China still 33% of patients are suffering from COVID-19 under critical situations. 

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