Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said people have got astonished at the fraudulence by two hospitals in coronavirus sample testing.

He made the remark while briefing reporters online from his official residence.

Quader urged the authorities concerned  to bring all the accused under justice soon after investigations.

Also read: Fake Covid-19 reports: Eight held from Regent Hospitals in city

Quader, also Road, Transport and Bridges Minister, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government neither spared wrongdoers in the past nor will do in the future.
 
About cattle markets before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Quader said permission will not be given to arrange animal markets whimsically at any place beside highways.

Also read: Fake Covid-19 reports: Regent Hospital MD, 15 others sued

Over the experts’ fear about coronavirus transmission during Eid, Quader said the national Technical Advisory Committee has advised not to allow setting up animal markets in some districts.
 
It will bring good reuslts if their advice is followed properly,  Quader added.

Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shirin Akhter, five family members and two caretakers of her residence were infected with coronavirus.

“Seven of the 12 people of the VC’s house tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday night.” said Prof SM Monirul Hasan, CU Registrar (acting).

Their samples were collected and tested at the university’s laboratory, he added.

Read Also: Corona cases in Bangladesh 'marks sharp fall'

Earlier on July 14, the Chittagong University was put under lockdown after 13 people including CU VC’s personal secretary and deputy registrar tested positive for the virus.

A CU notification on Saturday , said that the VC conducted different activities in the university area after it was put under lockdown to protect the teachers, officers and staff  of the university from infection.

The CU VC is supposed to be shifted to Chattogram Combined Military Hospital on Sunday for better treatment.

Bangladesh has so far reported 181,129 coronavirus cases and 2,305 deaths from it.

Read Also: CU campus put under 14-day lockdown

Naren Das, secretary to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Law Ministry, has tested positive for coronavirus. 

His wife also tested positive, according to the public relation office of the Ministry. 

The couple got admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on July 5 with high fever and breathing complications. 

They underwent coronavirus test at the hospital and turned out positive on July 7. 

Currently, Naren is receiving treatment at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital while his wife is at a cabin. 

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday clarified its stance over the Regent Hospital scam and said the much-questioned Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the hospital on condition of renewal of its license. 

"The DGHS got deceived when it attempted to serve a noble job," the DGHS said in a press release. 

Rab conducted separate drives at the Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital on Monday and arrested eight people on charge of issuing fake Coronavirus test reports in addition to charging the admitted Covid-19 patients exorbitant fees.

The government designated the private hospital for treating Covid-19 patients on March 21. 

An image, showing Regent Hospital Chairman Md Shahed signing the MoU in presence of the health minister and DGHS DG, went viral on social media and drew much criticism from different quarters.

Also read: Fake Covid-19 reports: Eight held from Regent Hospitals in city

The health directorate said Regent Hospital expressed interest to treat covid-19 patients in such a critical period when other private hospitals were refusing coronavirus patients. 

Being directed by the higher authorities of Health Ministry, the DGHS took an initiative to sign an MoU with the hospital to turn it into a dedicated one for Covid-19 patient treatment. 

While visiting the hospital, DGHS officials found it suitable for treatment of Covid-19 patients. 

Also read: Regent Group head office, hospital sealed off

Although the hospital did not have a valid license, an MoU was signed on condition of licence renewal, with a view to encourage other private hospitals in treating Covid-19 patients, added the press release. 

Following the Rab drive, the head office of Regent group along with the both hospitals was sealed off and 16 people, including the chairman, were sued on charge of issuing fake coronavirus test reports.

On Wednesday, a Dhaka court put seven of the eight arrestees on a five-day remand while the other was sent to Tongi Juvenile Correction Centre as he is below 18.

Also read: Fake Covid-19 reports: Regent Hospital MD, 15 others sued

In further development, Rab arrested Tariqul Islam alias Tareque Shibli, a close associate of Regent Hospital Chairman Md Shahed, from Nakhalpara of the capital on Thursday. 

Later, a Dhaka court placed him on a five-day remand on Friday. 

Also read: Regent Hospital scam: Shahed’s associate on 5-day remand

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Saturday said the coronavirus pandemic is also creating technology-based jobs and employment opportunities.

"Many people are losing their jobs due to coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, many new jobs and employment opportunities are being created," he said. 

The state minister was addressing the virtal inaugural ceremony of an online cattle market, deshigorubd.com. 

Palak observed that there is no alternative to using technology to adapt to the changed lifestyle.

Mentioning the importance of abiding by the recommended healthcare and social distancing guidelines, he thanked the entrepreneurs concerned for arranging the online cattle market. 

State Minister Palak expressed optimism that the online cattle market will create a bridge between the buyers and sellers of sacrificial animals and enable the sellers to get fair prices. 

Chairman of Bangabandhu Satellite Limited Mohammad Shahjahan, President of E-Cab Shami Kaiser, among others, spoke at the occasion.