“I would like to propose that the leadership of Saarc nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, via videoconferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy.”

“Together, we can set an example to the world, and contribute to a healthier planet,” he twitted at 1:47pm on Friday on his official Twitter page.

In another tweet, at the same time, Modi said, “Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it.”

“South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy,” he said.

The Indian Prime Minister called for the joint strategy a day after the first case of death from Covid-19 in India was reported on Thursday.

A 76-year-old man from Kalburgi city, 575 km north of Bengaluru in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka, passed away on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Friday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has welcomed Modi’s proposal and look forward to a constructive dialogue with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and other heads of state and government who have already agreed to discuss way forward at this testing time for the region and the world.
He made the remarks in a re-tweet in Modi’s tweet.
Meanwhile, one of the three coronavirus patients returned home after making full recovery, said Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora on Friday.
 
She came up with the information at a press briefing arranged by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at Mohakhali in the city.
 
"Two of the three infected patients have recovered fully. One of them has returned home while another is still at the hospital as some of the patient's family members are quarantined at home," Dr Flora said.
 
She said no new case of coronavirus has been detected in the country in the last 24 hours.
 
Besides, the death toll from the coronavirus has crossed 5,000 globally as of Friday evening.
 
According to worldometer, the Covid-19 disease killed a total of 5,082 people as of Friday evening. Besides, it has infected 138,271 people around the world.
 
Of them, 62,470 are currently infected while 70,719 patients recovered.
 
The coronavirus has affected 132 countries and territories around the world, and one international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan).