COVID-19 situation
FM calls for stronger global partnership to effectively tackle COVID-19
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday called for stronger global partnership and cooperation to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"All countries need to work together. It's essential to have stronger partnership and cooperation among countries to face COVID-19 situation," he said as the chief guest at the 5th episode of Bangabandhu Lecture Series held virtually marking birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Dr Momen said people across the world need to get vaccinated to make the world free from coronavirus. "All countries need to work together to ensure equal access to vaccine," he said.
Also read: Dhaka seeks greater int'l solidarity, cooperation to tackle COVID-19 challenges
Former UN Under Secretary General Ambassador Anwarul K Chowdhury delivered keynote speech on the "Birth of Bangladesh and Its Inspirational Legacy in Global Diplomacy".
The Foreign Minister said they want to establish peace in the world in a sustainable way. Bangabandhu firmly believed that peace is a must for development and laid emphasis on peace and stability throughout his life.
"Bangabandhu and Bangladesh are inseparable," he said, noting that Bangabandhu had turned into a global leader by highlighting the problems faced by the oppressed people in the world. He said Bangabandhu ensured religious harmony in the society.
Also read: Coronavirus & Agenda 2030: Dhaka seeks meaningful global partnership
The Foreign Minister said all young diplomats need to read the speeches of Bangladesh’s founding father.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen spoke as special guest.
Diplomats stationed in Dhaka, Bangladesh envoys abroad, senior journalists and intellectuals joined the programme.
Ridesharing bikers, shop owners block Dhaka roads in protest
App-based ridesharing bikers and shop owners brought traffic movement to a grinding halt in parts of Dhaka Wednesday, protesting the government's restriction order on their services amid a record surge in Covid-19 cases.
The pedestrians said bikers of ridesharing services gathered at Moghbazar intersection at noon and staged a protest demanding an end to the ban on their services during the weeklong restriction on movement of people and transport.
Traffic came to a standstill at that time as the angry bikers began to protest. Later, they tried to take position in front of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Headquarters but failed as police gave chase to disperse them.
Also read: Bangladesh shatters its all-time records of daily Covid cases
Earlier, the bikers gathered at the Mohakhali area at around 11am and demonstrated on the streets, causing traffic congestion from Mohakhali to Bangladesh Navy Headquarters in Banani.
When contacted, an on-duty traffic inspector of the Mohakhali area told UNB that cases were filed against
ridesharing bikers as the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) imposed restrictions on bike ridesharing services until Apr 14 to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Also read: Bustle back in Dhaka with reopening of city bus services
The BRTA has banned all ridesharing services for 15-days from Thursday to prevent the Covid-19 spread.
Meanwhile, shop owners and employees of the Bangabazar area blocked the streets of Gulistan in the morning, demanding immediate reopening of shops and markets.
Witnesses said protestors hurled brick chips at police as the law enforcement tried to disperse them.
Also read: No motorcycle ride-sharing from Thursday
Traffic came to a halt at Gulistan area at that time. At one stage, police dispersed the demonstrators.
Earlier, the government announced the lifting of ban on public transport in city corporation areas from Wednesday, amid the nationwide lockdown.
The move sparked anger among other commercial sectors and ridesharing bikers across the city.
Bustle back in Dhaka with reopening of city bus services
Traffic bustle returned to Dhaka with the resumption of city bus services on Wednesday, the third day of the seven-day countrywide lockdown.
In the wake of commuters’ sufferings, the government allowed public transports to resume their operations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensigh city corporation areas from 6am to 6pm every day.
The relaxation has brough some sort of relief for commuters, vendors, traders and retailers who had suffered during the last two days for lack of public transports.
“This is good! It has enabled us to move easily in the city. But maintaining health protocols still remains a problem. People are reluctant,” said Shafiqul Islam, a private firm executive.
But, he said, with the resumption of public transport service, Dhaka got back its usual traffic chaos and sound pollution though the volume of vehicles was relatively low.
Although mass transports were relatively thin on the streets, traffic jams were seen in areas like Moghbazar, Banani and Gulistan areas.
Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreading ‘lockdown’
Homebound people have started swarming into cities' launch and bus terminals as the announcement of countrywide lockdown came on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government is set to announce a seven-day lockdown from Monday to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Since the declaration, people are dreading the suspension of all public transportation across the country and crowding at the bus and launch terminals.
Railways Minister MD Nurul Islam Sujan said passenger train services will remain suspended across the country during the countrywide lockdown period.
Joynal Abedin, joint director for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told UNB no announcement of suspending launch services has been made.
Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader
Yet dreading the upcoming suspension number of homebound people at the terminals has increased from this afternoon, said BIWTA’s joint director.
Sales manager of Hanif Paribahan bus service’s Kallyanpur counter, Nahid Hasan said bus counters were already packed with passengers as the bus owners were carrying 50 percent less passengers according to the Government’s order from Wednesday.
As the declaration of lockdown came today the crowd of passengers increased more, he said.
Unique bus service’s Gabtali counter man Sulaiman said, passengers are frightened about being stuck hence they are flocking at the ticket counters to leave the city within a day or two.
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh recorded 5,683 fresh cases and 58 deaths in the last 24 hours until Saturday.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 5,638 cases, 58 more deaths
The infection rate slightly fell to 23.15 percent from 23.28 percent on Friday when the country recorded 6,830 cases, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 630,277 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
During the 24-hour period until Saturday morning, 2,364 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 549,775.
Meanwhile, the fatalities rose to 9,213 with the new deaths.
Cox's Bazar falls silent as restrictions on tourists kick in
Tourist spots and recreational centres at Cox's Bazar including the beach, have fallen silent as a result of the closure of all tourist attractions in the face of the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.
No tourists who are already there are allowed to enter the beach. The beach shops were also closed due to lack of tourists.
However, hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants and shopping malls have been kept open on the condition of complying with hygiene rules. Tourists staying in Cox's Bazar have also started returning.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner and President of the District Corona Infection Prevention Committee Md. Mamunur Rashid said a directive from the tourism ministry reached the district administration on Thursday (April 1st) regarding closure of tourist spots.
Also read: Tourism suspended in Sundarbans till Apr 15
According to the directive, all tourist spots and entertainment centers including Cox's Bazar beach would be closed till April 14.
The district administration, tourist police and other concerned people would take actions as per the instructions of the government.
Tourists were not allowed to enter the beach after receiving instructions from the ministry, said Mamunur.
Besides, all kinds of tourism related businesses including beach recreation umbrellas (kitkats), beach-bikes and jetskis had been shut down. The patrol of the tourist police had been intensified to keep a watch on the tourist centers including the beaches, concluded the Deputy Commissioner.
Nur Mohammad Rabbi, manager of Seagull Hotel said that advance room bookings at hotel, motels were being canceled due to the ban imposed on tourism.
Also read: Covid 19: Movement of tourist ships on Teknaf-St Martin's route suspended
Assistant Superintendent of Tourist Police Cox's Bazar Zone Chowdhury Mizanuzzaman said no one was allowed to enter the beach. Besides, all the shops near the beach had been closed.
Cox's Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Amin Al Parvez said, "A temporary shutdown has been declared to prevent public gatherings. Tourist spots, including the beach, will be reopened if the Corona situation returns to normal."
Earlier on April 1, the Cox's Bazar district administration had announced closure of all recreational centres in the district including the sea beach until April 14.
Moreover, the movement of tourist ships from Cox's Bazar to St.Martin's Island would also remain suspended during this period.
March Madness
Amid all the celebrations surrounding the Golden Jubilee of Independence and the Mujib Centennial in March, there is one undeniable that fact that we can no longer run away from: it was the month we allowed the Second Wave of COVID-19 get out of hand and out of control.
The hospitals are filling up as the country records a rising number of new coronavirus cases but the battle for survival is somewhat uncertain for the more serious patients who require intensive care.
As of March 30, hospitals dedicated for treating coronavirus patients in Dhaka have 108 ICU beds but at the moment, only four are available, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The situation at private hospitals is no different. There are 188 ICU beds but 144 of them are occupied. People with low or fixed income prefer government hospitals where the treatment is cheap. The cost at private hospitals is much higher.
The acute shortage of much-needed ICU beds means that only a fraction of the serious and critical patients will get life-saving treatment. Bangladesh health authorities reported a record number of cases on three out of the four days till April 1, when it shattered the previous day’s record of 5300-odd cases by reporting a whopping 6,469.
Additionally it reported 59 new deaths, the second-highest toll in the entire outbreak since March 2020. The highest remains 62 last June 30 – but the way things are going, it only seems a matter of time before that is eclipsed. The second wave is well and truly here with a vengeance, and it seems set to be much worse than the first.
“It’ll be very difficult to manage the situation,” said Prof Dr Mohammad Robed Amin, DGHS Director of Non-Communicable Diseases and media cell representative.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day
ICU beds running short
Among the 10 dedicated hospitals, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Kuwait Maitree Hospital have 16 beds, Kurmitola General Hospital has 10, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) has 10, Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital has 16, Sarkari Karmachari Hospital in Fulbaria has six, Central Police Hospital at Rajarbagh has 15.
Two beds each are available at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital and the Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh.
Meanwhile, the hospitals are running out of general beds as the number of patients increases. Of the 2,461 beds, 2,127 are currently occupied.
Among the private hospitals, Bangladesh Specialized Hospital has nine ICU beds, Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital has 30, Square Hospital has 19, United Hospital has 22, Evercare Hospital has 40, Asgar Ali Hospital has 32, Ibn Sina Hospital has five, and Impulse Hospital has 35, and AMZ Hospital has 10.
Also read: Covid-19 surge lays bare another crisis: Scant ICU beds and specialists
Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital has eight beds available, Square Hospital has five, United Hospital has eight, Evercare Hospital has six, Asgar Ali Hospital has 12, Ibn Sina Hospital has one, Impulse Hospital has three and AMZ Hospital has two.
Among the 925 general beds, 528 are occupied.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque warned that the rise in coronavirus cases at the current rate would overwhelm the healthcare system.
DGHS Secretary Abdul Mannan told our sister newsagency UNB that people must follow the health protocols and directives issued by the government to bring down the cases.
Dr Amin said they are emphasising setting up ICUs at hospitals which have additional space to meet the increasing demand. He noted that the number of ICU specialists must be increased along with ICU beds. “We don’t have enough ICU specialists,” he said.
Prof Amin said the government is planning to install new ICUs at the district hospitals. “The pressure on [hospitals in] Dhaka will lessen if we set up ICUs at district level.”
The recent spurt in cases prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive this week for the next two weeks to contain the spread. Health Minister Maleque said they proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates.
The government launched a countrywide vaccination campaign on February 7. Those who are 40 years or above and the frontline workers are being prioritised. Till March 29, 5,139,679 people received the first dose, according to government data.
What can be done?
As Bangladesh is experiencing record-breaking Covid cases, experts think ‘health emergency’, ‘nighttime curfew’ and area-based lockdown can be the right measures to slow down the virus transmission.
They think the 18-point directive issued by the government on Monday is not enough as the coronavirus situation is going from bad to worse with both high infection and mortality rates in the country.
Also read: Fighting the Second Wave: Govt seeks stricter implementation of PMO directives
The experts warned that Bangladesh may experience an ‘explosive’ Covid situation in the coming months, breaking down the already overwhelmed medical system, if unnecessary public movements and mass gatherings cannot be controlled with the strict enforcement of laws.
They also suggested ramping up contact tracing, mass testing, expanding ICU capacity and ensuring necessary treatment facilities and equipment in every hospital, including upazila health complexes, since the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has identified 31 districts as risky for the virus outbreak with a high infection rate.
According to public health expert Dr MH Chowdhury (Lenin), chairman of the medicine department at Health and Hope Hospital, the government’s directives are inconsistent with the coronavirus transmission pace.
“When it’s necessary to stop all the social and political gatherings right now, it was said to be discouraged in the directives. When a nighttime curfew should be enforced from 6pm, people are only asked not to come out of their homes unnecessarily. The shopping malls should be allowed to remain open for at best six hours on a limited scale, but the government said both sellers and buyers in shopping malls must follow the health rules,” he said.
Dr Lenin said all types of mass gatherings should be controlled strictly, but the government asked to hold public exams maintaining health hygiene rules, which is not possible.
“People are discouraged to go to tourist and recreation spots, movie houses and theatres, and all kinds of fairs. But the Ekushey Book Fair is going on in full swing,” he pointed out.
Dr Lenin said the government has instructed all to maintain health safety rules in public transport, but people do not do that for lack of monitoring. “Strong enforcement of law is necessary to force people to abide by those rules.”
Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director (disease control) of the DGHS, said, “The directives are not time-befitting and consistent with the current pandemic situation. These instructions should have been given at least one month back when the virus cases started surging.”
Dr Be-Nazir said when elections can be held amid such a situation, how can the government ask people not to arrange social programmes and mass gatherings?
The health expert said the government has given a directive to shift kitchen markets to open places, but the shopping malls will remain open. “When people can go to shopping malls in enclosed areas, where’s the problem if they visit the kitchen markets?” he asked.
“I think the directives have not been formulated considering the severity of the current Covid situation. So, these directives may not help contain the virus outbreak. We should take the corona situation seriously and come up with serious actions. Or else, we’ll have to pay a heavy price in the days to come.”
Dr Be-Nazir said all-types of mass gatherings and unnecessary public movement must be stopped to overcome the situation.
Also read: Avoid public gatherings, wear masks to fight Covid surge, PM urges all
“We should announce a health emergency by forming a high-powered committee to enforce it by taking necessary decisions to tackle the situation. The committee should be given the power to issue orders to curtail different services and close shops, offices and restaurants, to involve any organisation in healthcare management. “Adequate funds should be allocated so that the committee can take necessary preventive and curative measures.”
He said the committee should also be empowered to convert any community centre, convention centre, hotel or other institutions into temporary hospitals, quarantine or isolation centres.
The expert said the government should engage police, Rab, Ansar, BGB and even the army to enforce the health emergency. “A situation should be created so that people don’t venture out of home without masks and any valid reason.”
‘Suspend the Book Fair’
Dr Lenin said the Ekushey Book Fair should be suspended for at least two weeks while the tourist and recreation spots, movie houses and theatres should be closed right now as part of a move to control mass gatherings and mass movement.
He said people have long been asked to wear masks, but they are not paying heed to it. “So, a heavy fine should be realised from those who don’t wear masks.”
Also read: Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge
Dr Lenin said putting the entire country under lockdown is the last weapon to control the mass gatherings, but it will harm the economy badly. “So, we should use other preventative measures like a curfew from 6pm to 6am to control the situation.”
Besides, he said, the government should identify the areas where the infection rate is very high and declare those as ‘red zones’.
“We need to now enforce area-based lockdown in the red zones. The situation has reached such a level that we won’t be able to control the infection rate without controlling the movement of people in corona hotspots.”
Dr Lenin said the offices that can be run online should take immediate steps to keep their employees at home. “Other offices that can’t be run through online should follow skeleton duty schedules to lessen the presence of their staff.”
“The main thing is that we must control the mass movement and mass gathering as much as possible. We should take all possible steps in this regard. Or else, the pandemic will take a tsunami turn in Bangladesh.”
Prof Muzaherul Huq, a former adviser to WHO South-East Asia region, said the government should take all-out steps to tackle the situation in the days to come by ensuring proper treatment facilities in all the district and upazila hospitals since the virus case has been gradually growing across the country.
“If the virus continues to spread for two more weeks, it’ll put a serious pressure on the healthcare system. The Prime Minister has issued an instruction to ensure ventilators and ICU beds in every district hospital. The government should implement this instruction immediately. There should be sufficient oxygen supply and other necessary equipment in all the upazila health complexes to deal with the Covid patients,” he said.
Prof Huq said the Covid patients must be identified quickly and kept in isolation centres. “We also need to locate people who come in contact with the Covid patients and quarantine them.”
Too little, too late?
In the wake of the alarming spike in Coronavirus cases, the government towards the end of the week decided to take a tougher position to implement the 18-point directive issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in an effort to contain the spread.
The move came after the country recorded its highest-ever daily coronavirus cases (6,469) and registered more than 5,000 cases for the fourth straight day on Thursday (Apr 1).
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
Following the health protocols, all ministries and organisations have been instructed to use only 50 percent of their manpower in office for two straight weeks by State Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain.
Strict instructions have been issued to all the ministries and associated organisations asking them to follow the directives, he said.
“We already started following the instruction from Wednesday and the rest of the ministries started implementing the directive from Thursday. All ministries and departments will form a duty roster for all their staffs,” he said.
One half of the staff will attend office three days and two days from home in the first week and the second half will work the same way in the second week, Hossain said, adding that pregnant and officials above 55 years old will work online from home.
Besides, all of the private and non-government organisations and offices were also directed to employ 50 percent workers in office and rest through online from home, the State Minister said. Pregnant employees and officials above 55 years old will work online from home.
“We will ensure that no one go outside after 10 pm unnecessarily and also launched monitoring programme on the grass root level. Law enforcers will work in this regard,” Farhad Hossain said.
The government will decide the next course of action after maintaining all the directives for two weeks and review the decision after April 12, he said.
The Home Ministry said as the 18-point directive landed on Monday, police already prepared a work plan to implement the instructions across the country including the capital.
Police check-posts have been installed at different places including Dhaka and a massive campaign is operated by cops and local administration to raise awareness among people, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told UNB.
Moreover Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the administration will do everything to constant monitor the implementation of the health directives “The way number of patients is rising if the scenario continues, no hospitals will have seats to admit patients. All must act immediately to curb the massive transmission. The pandemic might take a devastating form if we fail to follow the 18-directives issued by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the minister said.
Secretary of Health Services Division Abdul Mannan said they have already started following the health directive strictly.
Transport restrictions
Bangladesh Railway is operating keeping 50 percent of its seats vacant to curb the transmission of Covid-19 since Wednesday, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.
Half of the 50 percent railway tickets will be available online and rest will be sold at the stations, the minister said adding that “We won’t carry any passenger without following the health guideline and take all necessary measures to ensure hygiene in trains and stations.”
Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Khandakar Enayetullah said all buses are carrying 50 percent of passengers with the direction of the government.
BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumdar told UNB that they have taken overall measures in this regard and mobile courts will be operated to prevent transport workers from violating the instructions.
State Minister for Shipping Ministry Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said they are also maintaining the 18-point directive by taking only 50 percent of passengers.
Passengers will have to step into launch after following all health guidelines otherwise legal action will be taken, he warned.
Meanwhile incoming flights from all countries of Europe except the United Kingdom have been prohibited to prevent coronavirus transmission, said Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman. The decision to exempt the UK has baffled observers.
Twelve other countries that have been placed on the list alongside Europe are Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, Jordan, Lebanon, Peru, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey and Uruguay.
The prohibition will remain in action from April 3 to April 18, Rahman said, adding that the airlines can only carry transit passengers from these nations during this time and they will have to remain inside the Airport terminal during the transit period.
The returnees from foreign countries who are allowed in will have to remain in institutional quarantine for 14 days at a quarantine centre or specific hotel, he said.
Besides, all travellers must have Covid-19 negative certificates (Sample collected within 72 hours) for leaving or entering the country, he added. Passengers will have to wear face shields along with masks.
All the directives came into effect since March 30 and will remain in force until further notice, he said.
Besides, the Election Commission (EC) late in the week postponed all elections scheduled for April 11. The National Cricket League has also been postponed midway.
Movement of all tourist ships on Teknaf-Saint Martin's Island route have been suspended, and all tourist spots in places like Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet have been instructed to close.
However, movement of vessels carrying regular passengers and daily essentials will remain normal, subjected to maintaining health guidelines.
Additional Reporting by AR Jahangir and Masudul Hoque
(This article was first published on dhakacourier.com.bd)
National Zoo, Rangpur Zoo shut
A record surge in fresh Covid-19 infection in the country has forced the authorities concerned to close Bangladesh National Zoo in the capital’s Mirpur and Rangpur Zoo on Friday.
They will remain closed for visitors until further order, according to a decision taken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
Fisheries Minister SM Rezaul Karim sought cooperation from all concerned parties in this regard, said a handout of his ministry.
"We’ve decided to keep the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo, which are under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, closed from today (Friday, April 2) until further notice so that the coronavirus infection does not increase due to the gatherings of visitors," he said.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 6,000+ cases for 2nd straight day
The government is taking all possible steps to prevent the spread of the virus, said the Minister.
Bangladesh recorded more than 6,000 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Friday. It was the fourth time in five days that the country reported its highest daily case count.
The health authorities confirmed 6,830 new infections in the afternoon. The infection rate rose to 23.28 percent from 22.94 on Thursday when the country recorded 6,469 cases, the highest since the beginning of the virus outbreak in the country in March last year.
Noting that the Prime Minister's Office has already issued an 18-point directive, Minister Karim urged the people to follow the directives of the government.
Also read: Fighting the Second Wave: Govt seeks stricter implementation of PMO directives
On March 20, 2020 the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock closed down the National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo for the first time amid the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent transmission of the virus.
Later, the National Zoo was reopened for the visitors on some conditions on November 1, 2020 considering the entertainment issue, physical and mental well-being of the Dhaka city dwellers as well as the government’s revenue loss, said the handout.
The PMO on March 29 issued the 18-point directives for the next two weeks in an effort to restrict the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Also read: National Zoo to reopen from Nov 1
The directives mostly are related to restriction on public gatherings, using masks, ensuring 14-day quarantine rule and maintaining other Covid-19 health protocols.
All the ministries, divisions, departments and agencies concerned were asked to take necessary measures to implement the directives.
Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has recommended to stop the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair as the country is seeing a massive jump in daily cases.
It has also proposed to halt all types of social events and shut other recreational centres to curb the spread of coronavirus.
At its meeting, the committee also recommended increasing ICU and Covid-19 ward beds at Dhaka hospitals to deal with the increasing stream of patients.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest-ever daily cases, 59 deaths
It welcomed the 18-point directive issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and emphasised formulating a specific action plan in this regard.
Boi Mela hours curtailed
The surge in coronavirus cases forced the Book Fair management to cut short the daily operational hours.
Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19
Currently, the fair remains open from 3pm to 6:30pm daily.
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded its highest daily coronavirus cases on Thursday when the health authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections in the last 24 hours.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
The infection rate also jumped to 22.94 percent from 19.9 percent on Wednesday.
Covid-19: BCB postpones NCL after round 2
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Thursday decided to postpone the ongoing Bangabandhu National Cricket League (NCL), taking stock of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the BCB had decided to host NCL in only two venues – Cox's Bazar and BKSP.
But the Cox's Bazar authority imposed different restrictions including on the use of public transport. So, the board opted to postpone the league after the end of the two rounds.
Also read: NCL: Rajshahi pull off record win
"It's a precautionary step, and a temporary move," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told the media on Thursday. "NCL is a first-class event and eight teams are contesting in this league in more than one venue. So the things are more challenging here."
Nizamuddin also said the league would be resumed as soon as possible. He, however, did not mention any estimated time frame.
Also read: Zakir, Nazmul best performers of NCL 1st round
At least seven cricketers including Mohammad Ashraful, Alok Kapali, Shadman Islam and Akbar Ali tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the league.
Covid 19: Movement of tourist ships on Teknaf-St Martin's route suspended
Movement of all tourist ships on Teknaf-Saint Martin's Island route has been suspended in the wake of fresh surge in Covid-19 cases.
However, movement of other vessels carrying regular passengers and daily essentials will remain normal, subjected to maintaining health guidelines.
Cox's Bazar district administration issued a directive in this regard on Thursday.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest-ever daily cases, 59 deaths
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Mamunur Rashid said that tourist ships usually operate till March 31 every year.
This period was extended by 15 days but due to the corona situation tourist ships movement has been stopped from Thursday.
Amjad Hossain, coordinator of the Teknaf station of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (BIWTA), said eight ships were approved to carry tourists on Teknaf-Saint Martin’s route from November 12 last year.
Also read: Bangladesh bans entry of passengers from Europe & 12 countries for two weeks
But the service has been suspended due to the recent hike in coronavirus cases.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Parvez Chowdhury said strict legal actions will be taken if this decision is disobeyed.