Bangladesh
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 100+ daily deaths for one week
Bangladesh is currently seeing the most alarming spike since confirming its first cases in March last year, as over 100 deaths were reported at a stretch for a week until Saturday.
As of Saturday morning, 134 more people died of the virus in 24 hours till Saturday morning while 6,124 new cases were reported, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The number of daily deaths remained above 100 after logging 119 deaths on June 27, and the country also saw the highest 143 deaths on thursday.
With the new numbers, the country’s death toll now stands at 14,912 while the caseload at 936,256.
The case positivity rate today fell to 27.39% from Friday’s 28% after testing 22,687 samples during the period, said the DGHS handout.
However, the country's fatality rate remained static at 1.59% during the period.
Also read: Bangladesh unlikely to reach Covid herd immunity anytime soon: Expert
So far, 829,199 people have recovered from the disease putting the country’s recovery rate at 88.57 %, which has been on the wane for more than two weeks now.
Thirty-nine of the deaths were reported in Khulna division today, while Dhaka saw 38 deaths.
Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy wins Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial Award
Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Limited, a leading company in the sector, has been selected for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial Award 2020, said a press release of the company.
It is among a total of 23 industries which have been selected for the prestigious award being given for the first time in the country.
Read: The SWAP story of Bangladesh's first reCommerce startup
The press release said Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Limited has been leading the country’s renewable energy sector by illuminating millions of homes in the country through Solar home system (SHS). This has brought unprecedented improvement in the livelihoods of the people.
Read: TEDxGulshan in city on Jan 18
Rahimafrooz has been playing a key role in installing solar irrigation pumps to facilitate crops production while it has a vital role in setting up of mini-grids in the country’s remote and off-grid areas and installation of solar systems on rooftops, industrial plants across the country.
Vaccines start arriving in fulfilment of prime minister’s commitment, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said that corona vaccines have started arriving in the country as promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Already 2.5 million doses of vaccine have reached the country, more vaccines will come in a few days," he said during his regular briefing from his official residence.
Read: Obaidul Quader pleased by 'development-friendly' budget
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, urged the people to adhere to corona health rules and stay home to prevent high rates of infection during the ongoing lockdown.
Turning to BNP, the AL leader said that the opposition party’s only job is to dispute the government’s achievements. This has become their ploy to divert people’s attention from their failures, he said.
He alleged that BNP has continued to spread lies to confuse people about corona pandemic and government’s sincere efforts to handle the situation.
Read: Obaidul Quader: Covid vaccines to be collected, no matter what
Meanwile, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday night received the first consignment of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine under the COVAX framework.
This consignment is part of the US government's recent allocation of 25 million vaccine doses for countries in Asia through COVAX.
30 more with dengue hospitalised in Dhaka in 24 hrs
Thirty new patients diagnosed with dengue were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning as the mosquito-borne disease continued to rise during monsoon, authorities said.
A total of 93 patients diagnosed with dengue are currently receiving treatment at 41 government and private hospitals in Dhaka while one outside the city, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Risk of dengue outbreak rises amid lockdown
Meanwhile, none was reported to be receiving treatment for dengue in hospitals outside Dhaka.
A total of 434 patients have been admitted to different hospitals with dengue since January and of them, 341 have been released after recovery.
Health authorities reported 1,193 dengue cases and three confirmed dengue-related deaths in 2020.
Read: 18 dengue patients undergoing treatment at Dhaka hospitals
According to official figures, 101,354 dengue cases and 179 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in 2019.
Dengue fever was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 when it claimed 93 lives. In the following three years, the fatalities almost fell to zero.
Read: 23 new patients hospialized amid surge in dengue cases
However, the mosquito-borne viral infection struck again in 2018, killing 26, and infecting 10,148 people.
Banks to remain closed on Sunday during lockdown
Banks will remain closed on Sunday also as per new instructions of the Bangladesh Bank following the countrywide strict lockdown that began on Thursday, July 1.A circular of the Bangladesh Bank, issued on June 30, said the banks will remain closed also on Sunday in addition to Friday, Saturday weekends during the lockdown until July 7.Banks will conduct transactions from 10 am to 1:30 pm during the 7-day restrictions.
Also read: Banks to transact from 10 am to 3 pm from until June 16
However, they can operate until 3:30 pm for conducting their other office activities. The new schedule comes into effect from July 4 (Sunday).The normal transaction hours of banks are from 10 am to 4pm.During this period, the head offices of banks will remain open while state-owned banks will keep open one branch at district level and one branch at upazila level while private banks will keep open one branch at district level and maximum two branches outside the district level with limited manpower.The bank authorities will take measures to provide transportation support to their staff in consultation with the local administration. The banks will keep open their principal and authorized dealer (AD) branches with required staff while internet banking service will continue for 24 hours.
Also read: Banks can open during local lockdown, says central bankThey have to ensure operation of ATM booths to facilitate transactions through cards by supplying adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain suspended until further order, said the circular issued on April 13.
Missing woman, daughter found dead in Barguna, husband absconding
Police recovered the bodies of a woman and her nine-month-old baby dumped underground at East Hatempur in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district on Saturday, four days into their missing.
The deceased were identified as Sumaiya, wife of Shaheen Munshi and her nine-month-old daughter.
Mohammad Abul Bashar, officer-in-charge of Patharghata Police Station, said local people spotted a new grave near the house of Shaheen and informed police.
Also read: Woman goes missing in Meghna trawler capsize
On information, police unearthed the body of Sumaiya and her daughter, their hands and legs tied with rope.
Quoting local people, police said Saheen marrid Sumaiya after a village arbitration over his relationship with her led to the birth of the baby.
On Wednesday, Sumaiya along with her daughter went to her parents’ home for lunch. But Shaheen did not go.
Sumaiya and her daughter returned home and since then they remained missing.
Shaheen also went into hiding since Wednesday.
Also read: 3 missing children rescued from Sylhet's Jaflong
Police arrested three people including Sumaiya’s mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law and brother-in-law—over the issue.
Lockdown: Third day sees more people, vehicles on roads, 184 detained
As the week-long corona-induced lockdown entered its third straight day Saturday, the number of both people and vehicles taking to the streets increased a bit compared to the first two days.
However, police, rab, and army personnel, deployed to enforce the strict restrictions, were seen even more active in checking movement of people and vehicles.
Traffic Inspector Akter Hossain (Rajlaxmi Uttara), said “The number of vehicles is higher than the last two days but we are also active and allowing only those who have valid reasons to come out.”
He said authorities lodged a number of cases over the violations of the curbs.
READ: Covid-19 burials: Quantum volunteers working through this lockdown too DMP Additional DC (media) Iftekharul Islam said 184 people have been detained until Saturday noon, while Tk 50,640 fined for flouting lockdown rules.
The government imposed a seven-day lockdown from July 1 to contain a surge of Covid-19 infections across the country. It will continue until July 7 midnight.
Law enforcers – rab, police and army – were seen patrolling the roads to keep people and vehicles off unless they can prove any emergency.
They set up check-posts in different areas of the capital including Mirpur Road, Mohakhali, Uttara, Airport Road, Farm Gate.
Kitchen markets in the city remained open, with the government allowing them to operate from 8am to 5pm. However, public transport stayed off the roads as per the government directives.
A number of shops were also seen open in different alleys.
READ: Lockdown: 320 held for violating lockdown rules on Day 2
Lockdown rules
All the government, non-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed till July 7.
All modes of public transport, including those of road, river, railway and air, will remain suspended during the lockdown. All the shopping malls and markets in the country will also remain closed.
All the tourist spots, resorts and community centres will remain closed while all kinds of public gatherings, including social events, birthday and picnic parties, and political and religious programmes, will also remain suspended until further notice.
The offices, staff and vehicles of the organisations providing emergency services, including law enforcement, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinery), crops, food-laden vehicles, relief distribution, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), telephone, private security services, and bank, pharmacy and postal services will remain out of the purview of the lockdown restrictions, and their staff and employees can move showing ID cards.
However, the restrictions will not be applicable for carrying goods, emergency services and production. The offices related to air, maritime and river and land ports will remain out of the preview of the lockdown.
Industries and factories will remain open subject to maintaining health protocols.
Kitchen markets and shops selling daily essentials will remain open from 9 am to 5 pm, and customers can purchase their goods following health safety protocols. Local administrations and the authorities concerned will ensure the same.
No one will be allowed to venture out except for certain emergency needs (to purchase medicines, daily essentials, to take medical services and burial/cremation of bodies, taking Covid-19 jabs etc). Legal action will be taken against those who would violate the restrictions.
READ: Lockdown: Dhaka dons deserted look on Day 2
Hotels and restaurants can operate from 8 am to 8 pm with takeaway/online services only. Those who need to take vaccines can move after showing vaccine cards.
Parliament’s budget session prorogued
The 13th session of the 11th Parliament, which was the budget session, was prorogued on Saturday, after 12 sittings.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury read out the prorogation of the President at 2:45pm. Before that, the speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the United Nations was screened in the House.
Seven bills were passed in the House during the session that started on June 2.
READ: Parliament passes Finance Bill, allows whitening of undisclosed money
On June 3, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the Tk 603,681-crore budget for 2021-22 fiscal and it was passed on June 30.
The supplementary budget for 2020-21 fiscal was passed on June 7.
Eighty-five MPs took part in the general discussion on the budget.
READ: Parliament passes new budget of ‘lives and livelihoods’
Healthcare services of the country were on top in the budget discussion as the health minister often came under fire by the MPs.
Can’t put lives of students in danger: PM about school, college closure
Admitting the losses Bangladesh’s education sector has suffered for the prolonged closure of educational institutions, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the government cannot put the lives of students at stake knowing it clearly that Covid-19 will infect them as well.
“Children are also getting infected by coronavirus. [This is good] they’ll learn but the question is whether we should force them to the verge of death knowing this virus will infect them, too,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her winding-up speech at the budget session in Parliament as a number of opposition MPs, including deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader, criticised the government for keeping educational institutions shut for an indefinite period.
Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on June 13: Dipu Moni
Sheikh Hasina, also the leader of the house, said the government will open the educational institutions after vaccinating students.
She mentioned that the parents of students are also not interested in sending their children to educational institutions. “Those who’re most vocal about it have no children who are students or their children have already completed their education.”
Hasina said the government has already vaccinated the teachers and will provide vaccines for the students following the instructions of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “We’ve to follow WHO. Keeping that point in mind, we’ve started our job regarding vaccination of the students.”
Talking about the problem of getting coronavirus vaccines, the Prime Minister said the government has procured vaccines from India with cash. “But the sudden spike in coronavirus infections in India forced the country to impose a ban on vaccine export. We’ve faced problems for some days,” she admitted.
Hasina informed the House that a good number of doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Sinopharm vaccines have already arrived in the country. “We’re also communicating with the countries where the vaccines of coronavirus are available. We’ll procure more vaccines; we’ll buy, no matter what the price is. For that, we’ve allocated separate funds.”
The Prime Minister said the government is communicating with China, Russia, the USA, Japan and Australia to collect vaccines, and the government will provide free vaccines to up to 80 percent of people. “We’ve made the Covid-19 test free as the number of infected people has surged at the district level in recent times,” she added.
Also read: Ecnec rejects Tk 17,290-cr primary school meal project
Vaccine funds
The Prime Minister said the government has been allocated Tk 32,236 crore for vaccine procurement while an additional amount of Tk 10,000 crore has been kept aside for emergency purposes.
Talking about the lockdown, she said the government will look after the food security issue of people and called on all to keep themselves safe from coronavirus and other health hazards. “Please follow the health guidelines, let no coronavirus spread further,” she appealed.
Hasina also mentioned that before the Eid-ul-Fitr she had requested people repeatedly not to move from the places where they were. “But many did not pay heed to that, they rushed (to their village homes). What’s the result of that now-- the spread of the virus! If everyone had listened to our call this spread might not have occurred!” she said.
Economy
Hasina said the government has been able to maintain the pace of the economy during the pandemic. “That’s why inflation is under control while the growth is maintained properly.”
“Although we couldn’t achieve the growth that we had wanted, we have attained the highest growth in South Asia,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the aim of this year’s budget was to face the coronavirus and revive the economy that suffered heavily due to this deadly virus, bring the marginal people under the coverage of social safety net and give topmost priority to health services.
Also read: 170,000 schools to be connected with high speed internet by 2030: Palak
She also briefly described the various measures of the government, including the stimulus packages given by the government, to offset the impacts of the pandemic.
Drug abuse
Talking about drug abuse, the Prime Minister said it is now a problem for the whole world, including Bangladesh. “We’re taking action against it, but this cannot be controlled,” she said.
Hasina requested parents and guardians to look after their children. Guardians and teachers have to give good lessons to the children so that they do not go down any wrong path, she added.
11 more die of Covid in Khulna
Eleven more people have died of Covid-19 at three different hospitals in Khulna district in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Saturday.
While six people died at the dedicated Covid facility of Khulna Medical College and Hospital, one succumbed to the virus at the corona unit of Khulna General Hospital and four at the private Gazi Medical College Hospital.
Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital's nodal officer Dr Suhas Ranjan Haldar said that a total of 213 people are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. "Of them, 113 people are getting treatment in the red zone of the hospital, 60 in the yellow zone, 20 in ICU (intensive care unit), and 20 in HDU (high deficiency unit)."
READ: Khulna gasps for breath
Some 35 people have been admitted to the hospital in the past 24 hours, while 36 were discharged from the hospital, he said.
Gazi Mizanur Rahman, owner of Gazi Medical College Hospital, said that four people have died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. "Besides, some 109 people are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said.
Kazi Abu Rashed, spokesman for the corona unit of Khulna General Hospital, said that some 12 people have been admitted to the hospital in 24 hours. "Some seven patients have been discharged post-recovery."
READ: 10 more Covid patients die in Khulna