The Sitakunda Upazila administration distributed food supplies among the poor and destitute on Saturday as the government asks people to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In the first phase, 1,200 families have received the food assistance (10 kg rice, ½ kg pulses  and 1 kg potato) each, Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Roy wrote on Facebook.

Besides, 500 poor and destitute families have got non-government food assistance (5 kg rice, 1 kg pulses, 1 kg potato, ½ litre oil, ½ kg onion, tea, and powder milk)

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A total of 1,700 families have received the food assistance from the government and non-government funds in the first phase in the upazila.

The government announced a 10-day holiday to tackle the transmission of COVID-19. It shut down educational institutions and transportation and urged the people to stay indoors.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed 48 coronavirus cases and five deaths.
 

A man with symptoms of novel coronavirus died at the Isolation Unit of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) on Sunday morning.

The deceased was identified as Sultan Sheikh, 70, son of Abdul Gafur from Narail's Kalia upazila.

KMCH corona unit doctor Shailendranath Biswas said Sultan was undergoing treatment at the Corona Unit but he had been suffering from tuberculosis.

They informed the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) but were told that it is not important to take Sultan's sample as he had tuberculosis.

Sultan's body was handed over to his family without any test, the doctor added.

Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Sujat Ahmed also confirmed that the man had been suffering from tuberculosis.   

Earlier, one Mustahidur Rahman was admitted to KMCH with coronavirus symptoms but he tested negative.

Meanwhile, two other persons suffering from coronavirus symptoms died at a hospital in Barishal.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed 48 cases and five coronavirus deaths. No new case was reported in the last 48 hours, the government said Sunday.
 

Amid the government's directives to law enforcers and the local administration not to do excesses with the general people, two photojournalists were physically assaulted by a policeman for taking photos of a campaign to prevent coronavirus transmission.

The victim - Shafin Ahmed of Dainik Desh Janapad and Nasir Uddin of Dainik Dakhiner Muk - said a policeman beat them up without any reasons while taking photos at Barisal University area on Friday evening.

Ratul, also the general secretary of Barishal Photojournalist Association, said  a team led by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mosharraf  Hossain was conducting a campaign to raise awareness about coronavirus.

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A policeman, wearing a mask and without an insignia, approached them and asked who they were. As soon as they said they were photojournalists, the policeman started beating them up.

Barishal Press Club President Manvendra Botbal and General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain condemned the incident and demanded punishment of the accused policeman.

Barishal Journalists' Union, National Daily Bureau Chief Association Barishal, Barishal Television Media Association, Barishal Electronics Media Journalists Association and Barishal Photojournalists Unity Council have also protested against the incident.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mosharraf  Hossain lamented the incident and said he did not instruct police to beat the journalist.

Barishal Deputy Commissioner SM Ajiar Rahman said the administration will do everything to ensure the protection of journalists. He promised to take proper action against anyone responsible.

Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Shahabuddin Khan said police have been directed to behave well with everyone. "Misbehaving with anyone is not desirable," he said, adding that he had heard about the incident.

He said they would identify the accused policeman and punish him.  

Two persons with coronavirus symptoms died at Barishal's Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Jakir Hossain, 45, a resident of Sadar upazila in Patuakhali, and Niru Begum, 45, wife of Md Dulal of Puranpara in the city.

It is unclear whether their samples have been collected for COVID-19 tests.

Niru was the first one to die at the Corona Unit of SBMC in the early hours of Sunday. Jakir's death was reported about eight hours later.

SBMC Director Dr Md Bakir Hossain said Niru's relatives rushed her to emergency around 11:45pm.

He suggested them to take her to Corona Unit of the hospital after hearing her symptoms. She died around 12:05am.

She had been suffering from diarrhea and underwent treatment at Barisal General Hospital around three days ago.

She returned home after recovery but fell sick again with fever, pain in the throat and asthma. She also had diabetes and high blood pressure, the doctor said quoting relatives.    

The relatives took the body home soon after her death.

Dr Hossain said the relatives of Jakir Hossain Took him to the medicine department of the hospital first on Sunday afternoon at 5:50pm. 

He was later shifted to Corona Unit of the hospital where he died around 7:20am.

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The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) was informed about the cases and the authorities permitted burial, the doctor added.

 Jakir had been suffering from asthma for a long time, his family sources sad.

Six patients with symptoms of coronavirus were admitted to SBMC since last night. Doctors said the hospital lacks any equipment to test coronavirus.

Coronavirus, first reported in China in December last year, is affecting 199 countries and territories around the world and two international conveyances.

It has infected 663,741 people globally and killed 30,880 of them so far -- a mortality rate of 18 percent, according to Worldometer. But 142,183 of the patients have recovered while 490,678 are undergoing treatment. Of them, 25,207 patients are in critical condition.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed 48 COVID-19 cases and five deaths. The country has tested 1,068 samples till date.

A young man was sent to the isolation unit of Sarankhola Upazila Health Complex on Saturday.

Dr KM Humayun Kabir, civil surgeon of the district, said the 24-year-old youth came to the hospital with high fever, cough and nose sore. Later, physicians took him to the isolation unit.

“We are trying to get his samples tested,” he said, adding there is another patient in the unit.