COVID situation
Australia’s August tour of Bangladesh 'on'
Australia's tour of Bangladesh for a five-match T20 series in August will go ahead despite an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases in this country, according to a media report.
Quoting unnamed sources, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Cricket Australia is satisfied with the bio-security arrangements that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has promised to provide the players during the tour.
Read:Tamim to miss home series against Australia, New Zealand
Meanwhile, the BCB has announced the itinerary for the August tour. The visiting side will play five T20 internationals against the hosts at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The Australians will arrive in Dhaka on 29 July.
BCB's chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said, “The BCB and Cricket Australia have worked tirelessly together for confirming the itinerary. Naturally this was a challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic as ensuring health safety and security is a priority prerequisite for holding any cricket series in these times.
"I am pleased to say that a comprehensive bio-security plan is in place and will be implemented during the tour for the protection of players and staff of the two teams and the match officials. We are really looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable contest between Bangladesh and Australia."
The tour had looked a solid prospect until the Bangladesh government eased the lockdown restrictions for eight days for the holy festival of Eid-ul-Adha, raising concerns about the Covid situation in the country.
Read:Tamim, Shohan guide Tigers to ODI series sweep against Zimbabwe
Health experts in Australia, including the chief of the national advisory committee to Covid-19, have criticised the move. They have warned the ease could fuel the already devastating Covid situation of the country.
Despite that, Cricket Australia is reportedly happy with Bangladesh's proposed bio-security arrangements for the tour.
BCB had earlier proposed that Cricket Australia split the series into two venues in Dhaka and Chattogram, which the latter disagreed due to the grim Covid-19 situation.
The Australia cricket team will take a chartered flight from the Caribbean, where they are touring currently, to Dhaka next week. They will travel to the team hotel directly from the airport. While travelling to the team hotel from the airport, the Australian team members will not require traditional immigration procedures at the airport to avert Covid-19 risks.
Read:Chakabva, Raza, Burl propel Zimbabwe to 298 in 3rd ODI
The Australian cricket team was scheduled to tour Bangladesh in June 2020 for a Test series, which was a part of the World Test Championship. But due to the Covid-19 situation then, they had cancelled the tour. However, the Covid-19 situation then was better than now.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh national team is touring Zimbabwe for a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20s. The Test and ODIs had already been played, and won by the Tigers. The T20 series is set to kick off on Thursday at the Harare Sports Club.
Several villages celebrate Eid in line with Saudi Arabia
In keeping with Saudi Arabia, residents of a number of villages in Satkhira, Barisal and Panchagarh are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha on Tuesday, the second largest festival of the Muslims.
Saudi Arabia and a number of countries across the world are celebrating the festival of sacrifice on Tuesday. But Bangladesh is scheduled to celebrate Eid on Wednesday.
In Satkhira, hundreds of people at seven places in the district, including Baukhola of Satkhira district, Upalor Islamkathi of Tala upazila, and Kashimari of Shyamnagar upazila have started the Eid celebrations.
Read: Five Eid jamaats to be held at National Mosque
The main congregation was held at Satkhira Sadar's Bhar-Khali market at 8am.
Imam Md Mahbubur Rahman conducted the congregation with a small number of Muslim devotees.
Imam Mahbubur said that all Muslims in the world should perform Eid prayers in line with Saudi Arabia. The devotees offered sacrifices of cattle after the prayers.
In Barisal, the holy Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated in advance in some villages of six upazilas of the district.
Around 10,000 devotees of Babuganj, Hijla, Mehendiganj, Muladi, Bakerganj, Sadar upazila and metropolis of Barisal offered Eid prayers in the congregations from 8 am to 10 am on Tuesday.
Amir Hossain Mithu, president of Haji Bari Jame Mosque in the Tajkathi area of the city, said they offered their Eid jamaat following the government's directives and maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.
Read:Govt fixes rawhide prices ahead of Eid-ul-Azha
Meanwhile, in Panchagarh, seven devotees of four families gathered for Eid congregation under police protection as a clash broke out over celebrating Eid a day ahead.
This year, the local authorities in consultation with public representatives and local dignitaries will take a decision whether Eid prayers would be held at mosques, Eidgahs or open fields considering the Covid situation in their respective areas.
The Religious Affairs Ministry issued some guidelines on offering Eid-ul-Azha prayers.
As per the guidelines, no carpets will be allowed at mosques that will be disinfected before prayers. The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home.
Soaps, hand sanitizers and water should be made available at the place where people make Wadu or at the entrances of mosques or Eidgahs.
Read:Gazipur gridlocked amid pandemic as hundreds head home for Eid
Devotees should maintain social distance following health guidelines. Children, the elderly, disabled people and those involved in taking care of patients will not be allowed to attend Eid prayers.
All have to abide by the directives of the Health Service Division, local administration and law enforcement agencies.
The Religious Affairs Ministry have already urged Imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives.
Global Covid cases top 190 million
The global Covid-19 caseload has surpassed 190 million as the 2nd wave of coornavirus continues its onslaught across the world amid speeding inoculation effort.
The total caseload and fatalities from the virus stand at 190,370,346 and 4,088,328, respectively as of Monday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
On the other hand, as many as 3,619,944,135 vaccine doses have so far been administered across the world.
Read: Covid kills 225 more in Bangladesh as cases cross 1.1 million-mark
The US has logged 34,079,336 cases and 609,018 fatalities to date, the highest death toll in the world, according to the university.
Brazil registered 948 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 542,214, the Ministry of Health reported on Sunday.
The ministry stated that another 34,126 cases were also registered, taking the total caseload to 19,376,574.
The moving average for daily deaths over the last seven days fell to 1,247, the lowest level since March, before the start of the second wave of infections in the country.
India’s Covid-19 tally rose to 31,106,065 on Sunday as 41,157 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours , showed the federal health ministry's latest data.
Read:France: Thousands protest against vaccination, COVID passes
Besides, 518 deaths from the pandemic were also reported since Saturday morning, taking the total death toll to 413,609.
Situation in Bangladesh
With Covid’s Delta variant spreading fast, Bangladesh is now facing the worst scenario as the caseload crossed 1.1 million-mark in the country on Sunday.
The country also recorded 225 fresh deaths in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
The total caseload from Covid now stands at 1,103,989 while 11,578 fresh cases were reported during the 24-hour period, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The new numbers pushed the country’s death tally to 17,894.
Read: Little new evidence emerges in US probe of Covid-19 origins
The fresh cases were reported after testing 39, 806 samples which took the case positivity rate to 29.09% from Saturday’s 29.06%, said the DGHS.
Meanwhile, the country’s case fatality rose to 1.62% from Saturday’s 1.61%.
So far, 932,008 people have recovered from the disease taking the recovery rate to 84.42%.
Launch services resume in Keraniganj
Launch services resumed here on Thursday morning, with the government easing the lockdown curbs for a week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury visited Sadarghat Launch Terminal and asked the authorities to ensure that all passengers comply with Covid-safety protocols.
Read:Now mad rush to return to Dhaka; river terminals overcrowded again
“Everyone should follow health safety guidelines and those found without a mask will be fined,” he had said.
Khalid had also urged the launch owners and officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to remain alert in view of the worsening Covid situation in the country.
On July 13, the Bangladesh government decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions would be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
Read: 5 die in stampede, heatstroke at Banglabazar ferry terminal
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown.
All modes of public transport, including the road, river, rail and air, remained suspended during the lockdown.
On June 22, the authorities suspended the movement of all passenger vessels in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj to curb the spread of Covid in these districts.
Read: Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreading ‘lockdown’
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) announced its decision to suspend the movement of launches, speed boats and trawlers on June 21, following the Cabinet Division’s circular on the imposition of lockdown in these seven districts.
However, the restrictions won't apply on the movement of cargo vessels and emergency services. And legal action will be taken against violators, according to the BIWTA notification.
Global Covid cases approach 188 million
Believe it or not, the global Covid-19 caseload is fast nearing the grim milestone of 188 million.
The total caseload and fatalities stand at 187,739,616 and 4,047,966, respectively, as of Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
So far, 3,494,474,264 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe.
The Covid-19 curve in the US is rising again after months of decline, with the number of new cases daily doubling over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, lagging vaccination rates and Fourth of July gatherings, reports AP.
Read:US COVID-19 cases rising again, doubling over three weeks
Confirmed infections climbed to an average of about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, according to Johns Hopkins data. And all but two states — Maine and South Dakota — reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks.
The US, which is the world's worst-hit country in terms of both cases and deaths, has so far logged 33,914,039 cases. Besides, 607,763 people have lost their lives in the US to date.
Brazil registered 1,605 more Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising its national death toll to 535,838, the health ministry said Tuesday.
As many as 45,022 new cases were detected during the period, taking the total caseload to 19,151,993, the ministry said.
Brazil currently has the world's second-highest pandemic death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest caseload, after the United States and India.
The third worst-hit country, India's Covid-19 tally rose to 30,907,282 on Tuesday as 32,906 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, according to the federal health ministry's latest health data.
Besides, 2,020 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the fatality toll to 410,784, a steep rise from Monday's figure of 724.
Situation in Bangladesh
Struggling with the second wave of the pandemic, Bangladesh on Tuesday morning recorded 12,198 new Covid cases and 203 deaths in 24 hours.
The new numbers took the country’s death tally to 16,842 and the caseload to 10,47,155, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read:Covid claims 203 more lives in Bangladesh, another 12,198 infected
The fresh cases were detected after testing 41,755 samples during the period, pushing up the case positivity rate to 29.21%.
The country saw a record number of 13,768 Covid cases on Monday and the highest-ever 230 deaths on Sunday.
So far, 889,167 people have recovered from the disease, taking the country’s recovery rate to 84.91%, which is on the decline compared to other indicators.
Of the latest deaths, 61 were reported in Dhaka, 53 in Khulna, 30 in Chattogram and 27 in Rajshahi. Besides, 15 people died in Rangpur, seven in Mymensingh and five each in Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
The country saw 2,404 Covid deaths in April, 1,169 in May and 1,884 in June, making those the most fatal months of this year. Also, July was the most fatal month in 2020, reporting 1,264 deaths followed by 1,197 deaths in June that year.
Lockdown eased
The government has decided to ease all lockdown restrictions in the country for eight days ahead of Eid ul Azha.
In a notification on Tuesday morning, the cabinet division said that the lockdown restrictions will be lifted from July 14 midnight to the morning of July 23.
However, strict restrictions will resume from July 23 and will continue till August 5, as per the order.
Read: Wellbeing during COVID-19: How yoga can help you during quarantine
Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Bangladesh Railway is going to restore its passenger train services for eight days from July 15-22 across the country, keeping 50% of the seats empty apparently to facilitate the movement of people during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Public transport services and business institutions will also be allowed to function.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on July 21 amid the Delta variant of Covid-19 wreaking havoc across the country, shattering records every day.
A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.
Easing lockdown, a wrong decision: BNP
BNP on Tuesday termed the government’s decision to relax the lockdown for a week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha a wrong one and warned that it will contribute to further deterioration in the Covid situation.
“The government has been making wrong decisions one after another to hide its failures. This decision (easing lockdown) will only worsen the situation further,” said BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Read: Bangladesh eases lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid
Talking to reporters after distributing food among people in front of BNP’s Nayaplatan central office and its adjacent areas, he also said had the government enforced a strict lockdown by providing low-income people with food and cash support after Eid-ul-Fitr and brought vaccines for all, the lockdown would not have needed.
Prince alleged that people are falling into catastrophic situations repeatedly due to the failures of the government and its wrong decisions.
He alleged that most of the steps taken by the government to tackle the corona pandemic were against people. “They’ve completely failed to deal with the situation.”
Read: Govt likely to ease lockdown for 8 days from July 15 to July 22
The BNP leader said their party has repeatedly been saying that lockdowns or curfews will not work unless the needy and low-income people and those who live from hand-to-mouth are given necessary money and food support. “Now that has been proved right.”
He demanded the government give one-time assistance of Tk 15,000 to the marginalised people.
Earlier, the party leaders distributed food among the poor and disadvantaged group of people to ease their sufferings amid the countrywide lockdown.
Read:604 people held in city during lockdown
Party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan inaugurated the programme at its Nayapaltan central office.
Prince said Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Samaj, a platform of BNP, arranged the food distribution programme as many people are going through serious sufferings due to the ongoing lockdown enforced by the government in an unplanned way.
Bank borrowers’ repayment extended until Aug. 31
Borrowers can repay their bank loans until Aug. 31 as the central bank extended the deadline considering the Covid situation.
The relaxation was announced Monday by a Bangladesh Bank circular.
Alsoread: Banks to remain closed on Sunday during lockdown
It said the measure of shifting the June 30 deadline was taken considering the negative impact of coronavirus on the country's economy.
Those unable to repay their loan instalments by June 30,can do it until Aug. 31 on the basis of bank-client relation.
In this case, their loans would not be classified if 50 of their loans’ payable instalment are paid,” it said, adding that other policies will remain applicable in case of calculating the loans, lease, interest on advances and profits while no penalty interest or extra fee will be charged.
Also read: No easy bank loans, say jobless expatriates, but bank refutes allegations
Covid-19: Bangladesh sees record 8,364 daily cases; loses 104 more lives
Bangladesh has reported a record-high number of daily Covid-19 infections after confirming its first cases on March 8 last year and 7,626 on April 7.
On Monday, 8,364 people were diagnosed with the disease from 35,059 sample tests in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the country's caseload since the beginning of the pandemic to 896,770.
New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on April 9.
The country, battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control, also reported more than 100 deaths for a second straight day. The new number, 104 deaths, took the country's toll to 14,276. Bangladesh reported 119 deaths on Sunday, its highest-ever daily fatality from the pandemic.
Also, the country's positivity rate reached its peak at 23.86%, which was recorded at 23.57% on April 8.
Meanwhile, the fatality rate almost remained unchanged at 1.59% from Sunday's 1.60% and the recovery rate dropped to 90.06%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Khulna division reported the highest 35 deaths, Dhaka 27, Chattogram 19, Rangpur nine, Rajshahi seven, Mymensingh five and Barishal two deaths.
New restrictions
Following the surge in new cases, the government has decided to enforce a seven-day toughest nationwide lockdown from July 1 engaging the Armed Forces, BGB and Battalion Police in a bid to check the coronavirus transmission in the country.
Also read:Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 119 daily deaths
"There'll be no pass for movement this time….no one can go outside as they'll have to stay indoors," Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said Monday. "We're moving on with a very tough stance to execute the lockdown from 6am on July 1 to 12 am on July 7."
Only those who are engaged in emergency services are allowed to move during the restrictions, he added.
In mid-April, restrictions on activities and movement were imposed across the country as cases and fatalities rose to their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. The positivity rate fell in May but started creeping up again this month, sparking harsher restrictions.
Indo-Bangla border closed for another 14 days
Health officials across the world have been alarmed by the rapid spread of the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant. The variant, first identified in neighbouring India, has reached at least 85 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
Amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh, the border closure with India has been extended for another 14 days till July 14.
"All other (previous) conditions remain the same," Mashfee Binte Shams, secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.
Also read: Alarming Covid surge in Khulna division; death toll crosses 1,000
Earlier, the government extended the border closure with India several times, and it was extended till June 30 before today's latest extension.
As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports.
BNP smells a rat in Pori Moni incident
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that actress Pori Moni’s issue was brought to the limelight to divert people’s attention to a different direction from Khaleda Zia’s illness and the government’s failure to tackle the Covid situation.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he also questioned the seven-day remand of businessman Nasir U Mahmud in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Read: Pori Moni buoyed by police work, calls it 'magic'
“The main job of the current government is to deceive people and mislead them. Our journalist brothers are now very active over the Pori Moni issue. Who is Pori Moni? Can’t we understand it’s again a matter of diversion and misleading people?” the BNP leader said.
He said, “When there’re talks over Khaleda Zia’s illness and her release, the country’s democratic situation and the Health Ministry’s extreme failure, and when the Covid cases keep surging, this issue has been brought to the forefront.”
Fakhrul said it is only possible for Awami League to deceive people and play games with them. “They’re suppressing the entire nation resorting to this tactic.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the shutdown of all newspapers except four state-run ones on 16 June 1975.
On Monday, Nasiruddin Mahmud, former president of Uttara Club Limited, and four others were arrested from a Uttara flat in the capital following a case filed over his reported attempt to rape and kill actress Pori Moni.
Read: Another case filed against Tuhin Siddiqui Omi
Pori Moni, in her verified Facebook page, sought justice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "I’ve been physically assaulted and they even attempted to rape and kill me. I want justice," she stated in her post.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court placed Nasir and another co-accused Tuhin Siddique Omi on seven-day remand each in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Fakhrul said people have no security in the country as law enforcers are suddenly picking up people in different cases, including false ones.
“I don’t know how much of this incident (Pori Moni’s) is true and false. But seeing yesterday’s incident, I’ve got an impression that everything is now possible in this country. The case was filed for attempting to rape and kill. But he (Nasir) was remanded in a narcotics case,” he said.
Read: Pori Moni case: Police press drug-related charges against Nasir, four others
Fakhrul also said he could not understand the reason behind placing businessman Nasir on the remand in the narcotic case when he does not own the house from where the liquor and drugs were recovered.
“Many questions have now arisen. Whether the powerful people and ruling party can do whatever they want. Whether the administration can pick up any one as per their whims and can defame and ruin his/her social dignity and family reputation in this way,” he questioned.
Govt "inaction" behind "horrific" Covid situation: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday blamed the government's 'inaction' for the ‘horrific Covid situation in bordering districts.
"Experts had repeatedly warned that corona will spread in frontier areas. We also raised our voice about it. But proper steps have not been taken to prevent it,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Read: Govt "inaction" behind "horrific" Covid situation: BNP
He said there is no ICU bed and necessary oxygen support in frontier Thakurgaon district hospital.
“Even patients are going through serious suffering at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for lack of oxygen. These are happening in India and West Bengal. We’re starting witnessing the same situation here, but no effective step is taken to protect people,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul expressed wonder over media reports that members of the Bangladesh Police are being given medals for the national elections held in 2008, 2014 and 2018.
Read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
“I’ve never heard that the police members are given medals for election duty anywhere in the world. The reason for such an award is that they (police) have helped them stay in power,” he observed.
The BNP leader said people have become helpless as the state has become repressive. “The people of Bangladesh have nowhere to stand. They’ve no shelter to take to go against any injustice and get relief.”
The BNP leader also said the government has destroyed all the state institutions only to hang onto power.
“Democracy has already been buried and the rule of law has completely been destroyed. The incidents that happened on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence centring the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dhaka, most of you (media) have called it mayhem of Hefazat. I totally disagree with that word,” he observed.
Read: Govt 'doing business' over Covid vaccine: BNP
He said it is the government that incited the violence in a planned way, but it was branded as the violence of Hefazat.
Fakhrul said their party’s some leaders have been kept in jail by implicated them in false cases, but they are not getting justice.
"But your (PM’s) adviser, who cheated on us over corona vaccine and who has a loan of thousands of crores of taka, was not arrested even for a day. Rather, he was rewarded and given scope to avail of official vehicles and other facilities,” he added.