Health Ministry
Journalists boycott Health Ministry’s press briefing
The members of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) on Tuesday boycotted a press briefing of the Health Ministry protesting the harassment and arrest of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam.
The Health Ministry was scheduled to arrange a press briefing around 11 am at the secretariat.
BSRF came up with the announcement on Tuesday morning.
The next progammes will be announced after an emergency meeting over the issue, it said in a press release signed by Shamim Ahmed, general secretary of BSRF.
Read: Senior journo Rozina produced in court
Earlier in the morning, police produced in a court Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam, who was held in a case under the Official Secrets Act, and sought her custody for five days.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division) Sazzadur Rahman said that Rozina was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim around 8 am. He said that the police have sought her remand for custodial interrogation.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Prothom Alo journalist has rejected all the allegations. "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat," she claimed immediately after her arrest.
An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh police station, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Read:Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
Rozina was handed over to police around 9.45pm on Monday after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3.30pm “without permission”.
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain has refused to comment on the matter.
Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina arrested under Official Secrets Act
Rozina Islam, a senior female journalist of Prothom Alo was arrested on the charge of attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Health Services Division filed a case against Rozina Islam with Shahbagh Police Station at night, said Harun ur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
The journalist rejected all the allegations and said she had been harassed inside the Secretariat.
Read Why press freedom matters
ADC Rashid said the journalist had been sued under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code.
Rozina was handed over to police around 9:45pm after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Maidul Islam Pradhan, senior information officer at the Health Ministry, claimed that she had entered the room of the Private Secretary to the Secretary of Health Services Division between 3pm and 3:30pm “without permission”.
Read ‘Independent media’ spreading lies against govt: Quader
“She took photos of sensitive documents. Some of those were recovered from her by the staff of the Health Ministry, including the PS, Additional Secretary of the Ministry and police Constable Mizanur Rahman,” he claimed.
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain refused to speak to the media about the incident.
Bashundhara's 'vanished' 2000-bed hospital was 'too costly' to keep running
Director General of the Health Services Professor ABM Khurshid Alam has slammed the media on recent reporting over scarcity of resources in the health sector, particularly dedicated Covid-19 hospitals.
While healthcare workers and employees of the healthcare sector are risking their lives to fight Covid-19, "some media" are shattering their morale through "illogical criticism," Khurshid Alam said Wednesday at a virtual press conference from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
2000-bed field hospital did not 'vanish'
About recent reports on the Bashundhara Field Hospital, set up as an isolation centre for 2000 patients at the height of the pandemic in 2020, the DG said: "Running the hospital cost more than Tk60 lakh per month. But it had only 15 to 20 patients.
"The hospital had 400-450 staff including doctors and nurses. Also, more than a thousand officers and employees, including security personnel, would work there," he said.
Also read: 2,000-bed coronavirus isolation unit at ICCB to be opened today
"As the hospital had a low number of patients, it became difficult to bear the cost. So, we had to shut the hospital down. We shifted the equipment from there to hospitals across the country."
Facilities expanded at DNCC's Covid-19 hospital
The DGHS chief also said the Covid-19 Hospital set up in a DNCC market premises in Mohakhali was also wrongly presented in the media, after it was expanded to add 900 general beds. The news was carried out without making any inquiry with the authorities on their plans, he alleged.
"Media reported that we were wasting public money to set up a hospital instead of improving the previous one. But we have a 200-bed ICU ward in the previous establishment of the DNCC Isolation Centre."
Also read: Work on 2,000-bed isolation centre at ICCB underway
"And we have installed 900 more general beds on the nine floors with oxygen supply to each bed. It was not possible to accommodate everything in the previous set-up."
A visibly upset Khurshid said, "We have considered journalists as co-fighters from the beginning in the battle against Covid-19."
"But some criticisms, levelled against us, in the media are shattering our morale. Criticisms follow mistakes, but if someone misleads people through them without knowing or understanding or looking for details, we cannot be okay with that," Khurshid said.
Also read: 2,000-bed isolation unit being set up at Bashundhara Convention Centre: Minister
"Doctors, nurses, health department, health ministry and employees of the healthcare sector have been working non-stop, risking their lives."
"Please do not confuse people and crush our morale; stand with us. We can be wrong, but if anyone brings the mistakes to our attention, we can correct ourselves," Khurshid said.
483 upazila health complexes get Tk 14.49 cr allocation
The Health Ministry has allocated a total of Tk 14.49 crore to the 483 upazila health complexes to ensure emergency health services across the country.
Each of the health complexes received Tk 3 lakh to provide health service for the people of grass level root, said a press statement of the Ministry on Sunday.
The allocated money will be utilized for machineries (logistic support), medicine, oxygen and other necessities for the patients of Covid-19 isolation hospital.
The ministry issued the notice signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of Health Ministry Sushil Kumar Pal.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
Covid-19 in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has reported its highest single-day coronavirus fatalities on Sunday, surpassing Saturday’s figure.
The health authorities confirmed 78 deaths during the last 24 hours till morning. A day earlier, the country recorded 77 fatalities, the highest since coronavirus cases were first reported in March last year.
Fatalities from Covid-19 rose to 9,739 as the mortality rate remained static at 1.42 percent for the third consecutive day.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus death on March 18 last year. The virus claimed 568 lives in January this year, 281 in February and 638 in March.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths
Meanwhile, 5,819 new cases were reported, pushing the local tally to 684,756, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The infection rate slipped to 19.81 percent from 20.49 percent of Saturday’s. So far, 5,002,865 samples, including 29,376 in the last 24 hours, have been tested.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 5000+ cases for 2nd consecutive day
Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, signalling a tough fight ahead for the country as people are still reluctant about following basic health guidelines.
With 5,042 new cases in a 24-hour period until morning, the caseload rose to 605,937, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Meanwhile, the coronavirus fatalities climbed to 8,994 with 45 more deaths recorded until morning.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
The DGHS said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent from 18.38 percent on Monday when Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever single day case count (5,181).
During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 540,180.
The government has ramped up testing, intensified vaccination campaign and efforts to ensure that the people properly follow health guidelines and hygiene rules.
So far, 4,643,645 samples have been tested – including 26,620 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Dhaka sees highest Covid deaths
The mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent on Tuesday.
Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet.
So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.
Covid-19: Dhaka, Chattogram among 29 districts with higher transmission
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has identified 29 districts, including Dhaka and Chattogram, with higher rates of Coronavirus transmission.
The areas have been dubbed ‘risky places’ considering the high number of Covid-19 cases.
Narayanganj, Gazipur, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Sylhet and Khulna are also on the list of risky districts, according to DGHS.
Also read: Proposed partial lockdown in areas with high Covid-19 cases: Health Minister
Prof ABM Khurshid Alam, director-general of the health directorate, disclosed the findings after announcing an 18-point directive on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a virtual press conference in the afternoon.
"Considering the level of transmission, the local administration can decide whether lockdown is necessary for any certain area or not,” he said. “But there was no decision on announcing general holiday.”
Proposed partial lockdown in areas with high Covid-19 cases: Health Minister
The Health Ministry has proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher Coronavirus transmission rates, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Monday.
“Our daily infection rate was only 2 percent in February which has now shot up to 13 percent as the number of fatalities and infection rises daily,” he said at a virtual event of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Hospital.
Also read:3,000 more hospital beds to be ready for Covid patients: Minister
Coronavirus infection rate jumped to 18.38 percent on Monday from 17.65 percent on Sunday.
In the afternoon, the health authorities announced the country’s highest-ever daily cases (5,181) as the caseload rose to 600,895. Bangladesh also reported 45 deaths, raising the national tally to 8,949, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.
“Bangladesh’s economy might face dire consequences if we fail to control the origin of Covid-19 and contain it,” the minister warned.
The Health Ministry has submitted some proposals to the government considering all these issues, Maleque said.
Partial lockdown, closure of amusement centres, picnic, religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine system, limiting passengers in public transports, and limiting attendance in offices are some of the recommendations.
The ministry also proposed ensuring ‘no mask no service’ policy, increasing numbers of mobile courts and imposing fines on health guideline violators.
Also read:Covid-19 situation under control in Bangladesh: Health Minister
“A detailed decision on the matter can hopefully be taken within several days,” the minister said.
‘No lockdown at the moment’
The country launched a countrywide vaccination drive on Feb 7. As the daily infection rate kept rising, the government extended the closure of school and colleges until May 23.
Ministry monitoring UNB reporter who fell sick after taking Covid vaccine
The Health Ministry is monitoring the health condition of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) correspondent Bisnu Prasad Chakrabortty, who fell sick after taking Coronavirus vaccine in Bagerhat.
Vaccination in Bangladesh: FM says over 15 lakh received shots so far
More than 15 lakh people have got vaccinated against Covid-19 in Bangladesh since the country launched vaccination drive on February 7, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
Bangladesh’s Covid-19 vaccine storage capacity 140-150m: Health Minister
Health minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday reassured the people that there won’t be any problem in storing and distributing Covid-19 vaccines.