Bangladesh
5,000 technologists to be recruited soon: Health Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said the recruitment process of 5,000 new medical technologists is underway to strengthen the medical sector.
He came up with the information while inaugurating the 2,000-bed isolation unit at Bashundhara International Convention Center (ICCB) dedicated to coronavirus patients.
Mentioning that the newly-inaugurated hospital dedicated to coronavirus patients is the second largest hospital in the world for coronavirus treatment, he said that the government has been able to prepare this hospital within only 20 days.
“It has 2,013 isolation beds. Among them, oxygen cylinders have been attached to 71 beds. It also has at least 400 more portable oxygen cylinders,” said the minister.
Plasma therapy for coronavirus treatment is also underway. Remdesivir medicine is also being produced in the country. The medicine is being stocked by government, said Zahid Maleque.
The minister said a letter has been sent to all government and private hospitals for compulsory treatment of general patients at Non-Covid Hospitals.
He also requested the people not to hide any information if there are any Covid-19 symptoms.
About the government’s decision to ease lockdown, the minister said when there was an emergency, the government imposed lockdown and when it was needed to relax it, it has been relaxed following all safety rules. The government is taking decision considering all sides.
If people follow health rules properly, there will be relief from economic crisis as well as coronavirus, he added.
The Health Minister also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her timely decisions.
DNCC anti-mosquito drive: Houses, establishments fined Tk 46,000
Mobile courts fined a number of houses and establishments Tk 46,000 on Sunday for having the larvae of Aedes mosquito on their premises in different parts of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
The mobile courts conducted drives in Uttara, Mirpur-2, Shahzadpur, Kalaura and Shah Alibagh areas of Mirpur-10, Karwan Bazar, Bhatara, Nurer Chala and Sutipara areas from 10am to 12pm as part of a combing operation, said a press releae.
During the drive, DNCC officials visited 1,748 houses, establishments and under-construction buildings.
It also issued warnings to some homeowners as they failed to cooperate with the city corporation authorities in controlling the Ades mosquito spread.
In a bid to protect the city dwellers from dengue, the DNCC launched the combing operation from Saturday and conducted the mobile court drives alongside it.
During the mobile court drives, starting May 10, have so far realised Tk 1,67,300 in fines till Sunday, said the press release.
Bangladesh witnessed a major dengue outbreak last year that put severe strain on the country’s health care system. As the country struggles with rising number of coronavirus cases, a dengue outbreak at this time like the previous year will come as a devastating blow.
30-ton fish fry to be released in Kaptai Lake: BFDC
About 30 tonnes of carp variety of fish fry will be released in different parts of Kaptai Lake during this year’s three-month fishing ban.
Officials of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Rangamati office came up with the information at fish fry release inauguration programme in the lake on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) AKM Mamunur Rashid inaugurated the programme from BFDC’s Fishery Ghat in the district.
Among others, BFDC Manager Commander Mohammad Touhidul Islam, sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fatematuzzohra Upoma and other senior officials were present at the programme.
VGF rice distribution programme was also inaugurated among 22,000 fishermen who are dependent on Kaptai Lake.
The nets seized during illegal fishing in Kaptai Lake were also burnt down.
BFDC issued a three-month ban on fishing in the Kaptai Lake which came into effect from May 1 to ensure boosting fish population.
The DC said Kaptai Lake’s fish is a valuable resource for the country. Fish production in Kaptai Lake should be increased for the development of the national economy.
“This requires the concerted efforts of all. All must work together to increase fish production. To ensure the natural reproduction of fish, everyone must strictly follow the instructions to stop fishing this season. Then we will be able to reach the target of fish production,” he added.
Burial of coronavirus victims: Quantum volunteers working round the clock
Hundreds of volunteers of Quantum Foundation have been performing burials of coronavirus victims according to health directives round the clock across the country.
All of the volunteers were trained and kept ready 24 hours for call to bury deceased people from COVID-19 disease, said a press release from Quantum Foundation.
Following the burial directives of Health Ministry, Islamic Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO), Quantum volunteers reach the house or hospital to collect the body and perform all rituals accordingly.
In between April 7 and May 15, Quantum volunteers buried 129 bodies in Dhaka city and 20 outside the capital.
Quantum volunteers use personal protective equipment (PPE) while conducting burial rituals for being safe from coronavirus infection, the press release said.
Saleh Ahmed, coordinator, Quantum burial activities, said they use 80 percent alcohol, six percent hydrogen per oxide and hifo chloride solution in every burial.
After each and every burial, volunteers wash the graveyard area with disinfectant, and burn the PPE including other protective gears.
Quantum volunteer use 27 types materials during each burial— gown, mask, safety gas, face shield, surgical hand gloves, heavy gloves, neck cover, gumboot, clothes for dead body, specialized bag for carrying dead body and others, he added.
Quantum has been carrying the whole burial cost instead of taking donation from the government or charging the relatives of the deceased, Saleh Ahmed said.
Besides Muslims people, Quantum volunteers have been performing the burial of the people of Hindu religion, said Ahmed adding that they have a female volunteers’ team for burial of female coronavirus-victim.
Saleh Ahmed urged the relatives of all deceased from coronavirus to join them with compassion in the burial ceremony beside Quantum volunteers.
Besides performing burial activities, Quantum volunteers have been donating good quality PPEs to five hundred doctors and government and private hospitals in Dhaka and other parts of the country for free.
On the other hand, other volunteers of the Quantum Foundation, are making, collecting and making sets of PPEs, Saleh Ahmed added.
Earlier on March 24, WHO provided an interim guideline, "To date there is no evidence of people becoming infected from exposure to the bodies those who died from Covid-19."
Meanwhile, the Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh urged all to follow the WHO guidelines for the Namaz-e-Janaza and burial of the victims of Covid-19.
Beside volunteers of Quantum Foundation, other voluntary organisations also have been attending the burial activities of coronavirus-victims in the country.
The coronavirus situation taken a serious turn in Bangladesh has been reporting near one thousands new cases every day.
The country reported the highest number—1,273 on Sunday.
The health authority of the country has So far reported 22,268 coronavirus cases and 328 deaths.
Camapigners for hiking tax, raising prices of tobacco products
Anti-Tobacco organisations have urged the authorities concerned to raise taxes and prices of tobacco in the next national budget to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
2 killed in Bogura road crash
Two women were killed and three others were injured after a truck hit an auto-rickshaw on Sherpur-Dhaka Highway at Zamuna Para in Sherpur upazila on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Nila Khatun, 35, wife of Sultan Mahmud of Sherua village in the upazila and Arpita Saha, 20, daughter of Jibon Saha of Mathurapur village in Dhunat upazila.
Ratan Islam, station officer of Sherpur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the accident took place around 10am when the Dhaka-bound truck hit an auto-rickshaw, leaving Nila dead on the spot and four others injured.
The injured were taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where Arpita died later.
Road crashes claim thousands of lives every year and they are mainly blamed on unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles and rundown road condition.
Last year, road crashes left 5,227 people dead and 6,953 injured, according to a road safety advocacy group. In February alone, at least 534 people were killed and 1,169 others injured.
In a report published in February, the World Bank said Bangladesh needs to invest an estimated extra $7.8 billion over the next decade to halve its road crash fatalities.
PM mourns death of Liberation War organiser Mamtaj Begum
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Liberation War organiser, former MP and former general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Awami League Professor Advocate Mamtaj Begum.
Bangladesh confirms 1273 new coronavirus cases, 14 deaths
Bangladesh’s confirmed coronavirus cases soared to 22,268 on Sunday with the detection of 1,273 new cases.
Coronavirus: 72 cases reported from 6 districts
Seventy-two people were diagnosed with coronavirus in Bogura, Feni, Nilphamari, Bagerhat, Thakurgaon and Jashore in the last 24 hours till Saturday.
Woman killed by elephant in Rangamati
A woman was killed in an attack by a wild elephant at Dongnala of Rangamati's Kaptai upazila on Sunday morning.