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Air Quality Index: Dhaka ranks 7th worst
The air quality of Dhaka showed signs of improvement on Monday morning.
The capital was ranked 7th worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI) with a score of 134, around 8am.
The air quality was classified as ‘moderate’.
Myanmar’s Yangon, China’s Shenyang, China’s Chengdu occupied the first three spots in the list of cities with worst air with scores of 175, 162, and 154 respectively.
When the AQI value is between 101 to 150 it means ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’.
Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants - Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
6 die of Covid-19, 3 others with fever cough in 6 districts
Six people died of Covid-19 in Narayanganj, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Shariatpur districts while three more died with symptoms like that of coronavirus in two other districts on Sunday.
Shift kitchen markets to open spaces: Ministry
The Land Ministry on Sunday directed the local administration of all districts to take steps to shift kitchen markets from original haats and markets and their peripheries to open places amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Keep up the good work: IGP to his force
Appreciating their sacrifices and humanitarian activities aimed at ensuring the welfare of people under the current coronavirus situation, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed has directed the police personnel to continue their efforts.
Extend support to keep supply chain moving: Ministry
Commerce Ministry has urged different ministries and departments to take necessary measures to keep on the production, import and transportation of essential commodities, including rice, lentil, oil, onion, sugar, garlic and ginger, water, baby food, other foodstuffs, masks, hand sanitiser and all medical and electronic goods.
LGRD ministry allocates Tk 52.25 crore to tackle coronavirus crisis
The Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Ministry has allocated additional Tk 52.25 crore for the local government institutions to tackle the crisis created over coronavirus outbreak.
A general order was issued by the Local Government Division in this regard on Sunday.
The allocation was made to take preventive measures, conduct relief activities and payment of arrears of municipality officials.
Earlier on March 25, the ministry allocated Tk 33.2 crore for 12 city corporations, 328 municipalities and 492 upazila parishads.
DGDA refused to accept our test kits: Dr Zafrullah
The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) did not receive the coronavirus testing kits invented by Gonoshasthaya Kendra on Sunday, said its founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury.
Court’s closure extended until May 5
In line with the extended general holidays, all courts across the country will remain closed until May 5 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain took the decision from a full-court meeting held through videoconferencing on Sunday.
Jashore to go under lockdown from Monday
Local administration has decided to put the whole district under lockdown for an indefinite period from Monday morning, to prevent transmission of coronavirus.
Deputy Commissioner Mohamamd Shafiul Arif, said the decision was taken on Sunday at a meeting held at the Circuit House.
The local administration took the decision amid concern over the growing number of coronavirus cases in the district.
No one will be allowed to enter or exit the district and all kinds of shops except pharmacies and kitchen markets will remain shut. However, emergency services will remain out of the purview of the restriction.
Legal action will be taken against those who will violate the restriction s, he added.
50pc of haor paddy already harvested: Minister
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Sunday said farmers have already harvested 50 percent paddy from fields in the haor areas.