travel ban
Ban on tourism in 2 Bandarban upazilas extended till Nov 20
Bandarban district administration has further extended the temporary ban on tourism in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas till November 20 as part of high security measures.
A public notice in this regard was issued from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday upon receiving a letter from Bandarban Cantonment.
Meanwhile, the travel ban on Thanchi upazila has been lifted, it added.
Read more: Bandarban: Ban on tourism in 3 upazilas extended till Nov 16
Taking into consideration the safety of tourists, the travel ban on domestic and foreign tourists has been extended in the two upazilas, said the notice signed by Yasmin Parvin Tibriji, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner.
This is the seventh time that such restriction has been extended for the safety of tourists amid anti-militancy drive in the district's remote forested areas.
On November 12, the ban on tourism in the three upazilas was extended till today.
On November 8, the restriction was lifted from Alikadam upazila.
Read more: Tourists leaving Bandarban amid security drive to remove suspected militants, criminals
The administration imposed the temporary restriction on visitors in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas on October 18.
Later on October 23, the local administration discouraged tourists from traveling to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas due to the same reason.
From October 10, law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district.
Saudi Arabia bans citizens from travelling to 16 countries, including India, over new COVID-19 outbreaks
Saudi Arabia has banned its citizens from travelling to 16 countries following the re-outbreak of COVID-19.
These include Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus and Venezuela, reports Gulf News.
Also read: Saudi raises number of hajj pilgrims this year
The ban comes following a steady increase in the number of daily COVID-19 infections over the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has ensured the public that it has not detected any cases of monkeypox in Saudi Arabia yet, Al Arabiya reported.
Dr. Abdullah Asiri, deputy minister of health for preventive health, said that the Kingdom’s health sector is capable of monitoring and discovering suspected cases of “monkeypox” and to combat infection.
He said, “There is a standard definition of suspected cases and the way to confirm them and monitoring and diagnosis methods are available in the laboratories of the Kingdom.”
Also read: Saudi Arabia says it's not responsible for high oil prices
“Until now, cases of transmission between humans are very limited, and therefore the possibility of any outbreaks occurring from it, even in countries that have detected cases, are very low,” he added.
The World Health Organization said about 80 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in 11 countries, warning that more cases are likely to be reported.
Now travel ban issued on lower court judges
The Chief Justice has ordered the judges of the lower courts of the country not to apply for foreign travel unless any emergency.
A notification, signed by Bazlur Rahman, the registrar general of the Supreme Court, was issued in this regard on Thursday.
Read: Govt bars officials from overseas travel until further notice
UK sanctions Russians, including Abramovich
Britain has imposed a travel ban and asset freezes on seven more wealthy Russians, including Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Premier League soccer club Chelsea.
The government said Thursday that Abramovich’s assets are frozen, he is banned from visiting the U.K. and he is barred from transactions with U.K. individuals and businesses.
Also read: New Zealand passes Russia sanctions bill
Abramovich said last week he was trying to sell Chelsea as the threat of sanctions loomed.
Also added to the U.K. sanctions list are industrialist Oleg Deripaska and Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin.
The sanctions are being imposed in response to Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Also read: Singapore announces sanctions against Russia
NTAC recommends travel ban to contain new variant Omicron
The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has recommended a travel ban to Bangladesh from the countries where the new variant of the virus Omicron has spread.
The recommendation was made at the 47th meeting of the committee on Sunday, said Dr Mohammad Shahidullah, president of the NTAC in a press release.
Read:South African scientists brace for wave propelled by omicron
The committee also recommended institutional quarantine for travelers who have traveled to the countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, in the last 14 days.
The NTAC also called for setting up screening at all ports of entry and asked to avoid public gatherings.
Moreover, they recommended arranging Covid-19 tests free of cost to encourage people to get tested more frequently.
Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.
Read: Britain tightens COVID rules as world on alert over omicron
A World Health Organization panel named the variant “omicron” and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category that includes the predominant delta variant, which is still a scourge driving higher cases of sickness and death in Europe and parts of the United States.
No self-isolation in Britain for fully jabbed Bangladeshi travellers
From Monday, fully vaccinated Bangladeshi nationals will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival in the UK.
This is because the British government has added Bangladesh to the list of countries with approved proof of Covid vaccination, effective October 11.
"Bangladesh vaccine certification is now recognized by the British authorities. Our Mission contacted them and described our processes and now they recognize our vaccine certification," said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Also read: Covid: Dhaka advocates an equal shot at recovery
High Commissioner for Bangladesh to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem said "the decision is a reflection of warm bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the UK".
The decision is also a result of the High Commission’s sustained diplomatic efforts to remove the remaining obstacles to business, tourism and essential travel between the two countries, she said.
"From 4am Monday (October 11), Bangladeshi nationals fully vaccinated with UK-approved vaccines will no longer require a 10-day hotel or home quarantine and a pre-departure Covid test."
However, a Covid test should be taken on or before Day 2 after arrival in the UK. Also, Vaccination certificates issued by relevant Bangladesh authorities are required for all travellers as proof of inoculation status.
Also read: Bangladesh calls for fair, balanced IP regime system to fight COVID
The travellers who have not been fully vaccinated with a UK-authorised jab must quarantine for 10 days, either at home or where they are staying, and should undergo a Day 2 and Day 8 Covid test.
On September 17, Bangladesh was removed from the UK government's travel red list, which came into effect at 4am on September 22.
Bahrain
Bahrain has decided to remove Bangladesh from red list countries starting from October 10, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
He said everyday hundreds of Bangladeshis who returned from Bahrain ask when Bahrain would open up. "Today we have a good news."
Philippines to lift travel ban on Bangladesh Monday
The Philippines will lift the restrictions imposed on travellers from Bangladesh and nine other countries from Monday.
In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the pandemic task force to lift the ban on travellers coming from these countries.
The countries are Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to a news carried by Philstar.com and shared by the Embassy of Philippines on its verified Facebook page.
Also read: Delta concerns: Philippines extends travel ban for Bangladesh, 9 other countries
The travel ban was imposed in a bid to ward off the hyper contagious Delta variant, which is now driving a surge in COVID-19 infections in the country.
International travellers coming from the abovementioned countries will, however, have to comply with the appropriate entry, testing and quarantine protocols, depending on the country’s approved ‘listing.'
Also read: Philippines reopens gyms, museums as surge ebbs
Delta concerns: Philippines extends travel ban for Bangladesh, 9 other countries
The Philippines has extended a ban on travellers from Bangladesh and nine other countries to August 31 because of concerns posed by the highly contagious Delta variant of the Covid-19, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.
Aside from India where the Delta variant was first detected, the Philippines also banned travellers from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE, where the variant has spread.
However, the country will allow returning overseas Filipino workers under its repatriation programme, but they will be isolated for 14 days upon their arrival.
Read: Bangladesh reports 197 new deaths as it fails to take hold on Covid
The Philippines is grappling with soaring Covid-19 infections fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, prompting the government to reimpose a hard lockdown in Metro Manila and other regions.
The Philippines now has more than 1.7 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and 29,539 deaths.
The travel ban, first issued on April 27, was later expanded to include Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE.
On July 16, the country added Indonesia to the list, followed by Malaysia and Thailand on July 25. The ban was set to expire on Sunday, but the government extended it until August 31.
Philippines extends travel ban on Bangladesh, 9 other countries as Delta variant spreads
The Philippines has extended its travel ban for all inbound travelers from India and nine other countries to August 31 as Delta variant cases rise across the country, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.
The Delta variant has spread in the Philippines, where 627 cases have been reported, including 11 deaths.
Read: Bangabandhu's birth centenary: Philippines unveils commemorative cover, stamp
Aside from India where the Delta variant was first detected, the Philippines also banned travelers from Bangladesh,Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal,Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, where the variant has spread.
However, the country allows returning overseas Filipino workers under its repatriation program, but they will be isolated for 14 days upon the arrival.
Read:Philippines weighs extending lockdown as COVID cases top 1M
The Philippines is grappling with soaring COVID-19 infections fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, prompting the government to reimpose a hard lockdown in Metro Manila and other regions.
The Philippines now has more than 1.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 29,539 deaths.
Travel ban imposed on Evaly chairman, MD
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) Friday imposed a travel ban on Evaly Chairman Shamima Nasrin and Managing Director Mohammad Rassel as it has launched an inquiry into an allegation of embezzlement of Tk338.62 crore from customers and merchants.
"The commission has taken all steps to prevent them from leaving the country," ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB.
Read: BB to probe Evaly financial transactions, e-commerce activities
The anti-graft watchdog already notified the police's Special Branch and the Department of Immigration and Passport about the issue in a letter.
Earlier, the commerce ministry asked the ACC to launch an investigation into allegations that Evaly misappropriated Tk338.62 crore – received in advance from customers and merchants.
The ACC formed a two-member committee to investigate the alleged embezzlement after receiving a letter from the ministry, Arif Sadeq said.
Evaly's total liabilities were Tk407.18 crore, which they need to pay to consumers and merchants, the Bangladesh Bank said in an inspection report last month.
Read:e-CAB formed 7-member body to observe business of Evaly
After receiving Tk213.94 crore in advance from customers and Tk189.85 crore from merchants, Evaly was expected to have at least Tk403.80 crore in current assets, but it only had Tk65.17 crore.
The company can now deliver goods or return the money to only 16.14% of the customers with its current assets, the ministry said.