Covid-19 in Bangladesh
Nine infected with coronavirus at BNP chief Khaleda’s house
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight other people at her Gulshan residence have been infected with the coronavirus.
“A total of nine people of this house, including Madam (Khaleda), tested positive for Covid-19,” her personal doctor Mamun told reporters after visiting the BNP chief at her house on Sunday afternoon.
Mamun said Khaleda’s condition is stable and she has no Covid symptom like fever, cough, throat ache and breathing problem.
The physician said a staffer at the BNP chief’s Gulshan house tested positive for coronavirus five-six days ago. “We tested other staff who stay in his room. All of them were positive,” he said.
Khaleda’s domestic help Fatema had also tested positive. A Covid test was arranged for the BNP chief even though she showed no symptoms.
“Her test report came out positive,” Mamun said, adding that a medical board of Khaleda’s personal physicians are treating her.
Also read: Khaleda Zia infected with Covid-19
He said they have made all arrangements for ensuring proper treatment of Khaleda at her residence. “We’ve turned her house into a [makeshift] hospital. We’ve all the preparations, including oxygen and other equipment,” the doctor said.
Besides, Mamun said they have booked a cabin at a private hospital in case of emergency.
He said he did not disclose information about Khaleda’s infection in the morning to protect her privacy “as per the rules of our profession”.
Mamun said other infected people at Khaleda’s house Firoza have also been given necessary treatment.
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul slam Alamgir at a press conference said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition is completely stable with no symptom of Covid-19 though she has tested positive.
He said Khaleda’s samples were taken to icddr,b on Saturday.
Also read: Khaleda tests positive for Covid with no symptom: BNP
At a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said she is now receiving treatment under her personal physicians, led by respiratory medicine expert Prof Dr FM Siddiqui.
“She’s stable and fine. She has no visible Covid symptom,” the BNP leader said.
He said her personal physicians will take steps for further treatment, if necessary.
Fakhrul said Khaleda urged the people to pray for her speedy recovery. “Especially, I urge our party’s leaders and activists at every level to seek divine blessings for our leader’s quick recovery."
“We’d like to assure the people that she’s fine and receiving treatment under her personal physicians who are famous in the country,” Fakhrul added.
Earlier in the day, Health Ministry’s senior information officer Maidul Islam Prodhan said the BNP chief underwent Covid test on Saturday evening and the results came out positive.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths
She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a subordinate court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.
Appellate Division to operate virtually 3 days weekly from Apr 12
The Appellate Division of Supreme Court (SC) will operate virtually for three days weekly from April 12, to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus.
Directed by the Chief Justice Appellate Division registrar Md Badrul Alam Bhuiya issued a circular on Sunday in this regard.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
The directive will remain in action until further notice.
The Appellate Division will operate on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm on limited scale.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths
Appellate Division remained closed from April 5 during the nationwide lockdown.
Only virtual Chamber Bench operated on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am during the lockdown.
Also read: Virtual court a new chapter in law: Anisul
Banks to operate from 10am to 1 pm for general transactions on Monday,Tuesday
Banks will operate from 10am to 1 pm for general transactions on April 12 (Monday) and 13 (Tuesday). If necessary, they can remain open up to 3pm for execution of other required activities.
Bangladesh Bank issued a circular on Sunday in this regard as follow-up of previous circular issued on April 4, saying that all other instructions will remain unchanged given in the previous one.
Earlier, the central bank instructed banks to operate from 10am to 12:30pm for general transactions during the lockdown period from April 5 to 11.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
It also said that during the banking transaction hours, the banks have to ensure different kinds of services including clearing of cheques, withdrawal and deposits of money, money transfer, release of remittance, encashment of different instruments and also receipt of the payments of bills of different utilities.
The banks can operate one branch where they have more than one branches within the radius of two kilometres in metropolitan and district headquarters through internal coordination, it said.
BB said banks have to continue services like disbursement of loans, incentives,
payment of salaries of different industries and also the purchase of export bills, loan sanction and distribution.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths
They have to keep open branches designated as authorised dealers for facilitating the export-import business.
The banks have to ensure maintaining the health and safety instructions about the coronavirus in discussion with the local administration and other authorities, it said.They have to ensure operation of the ATM booths to facilitate transaction through cards by supply of adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain closed until further order, said the earlier circular issued on April 4.
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 highest single-day deaths
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.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
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.
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.
After reporting over 7,000 cases between April 4 and April 9, the daily case count fell significantly in the last 48 hours.
Also read: Ongoing lockdown extended upto Apr 13: Quader
During the 24-hour period, 4,212 patients recovered, raising the number of recoveries to 576,590, the DGHS said.
Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the coronavirus situation has reached an alarming level in Bangladesh due to the government’s “indifference and incapability” to take effective preventive measures.
“The government has been exhibiting double-standards in formulating the corona prevention policy. On one hand, they’re saying that we’re giving lockdown and resuming public transport services and reopening shopping malls and shops on the other,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “It means the corona situation has reached such an alarming level only because of their (govt’s) indifference, failure and incompetence.”
Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
He said health experts are warning that the nation is going to face a serious disaster as over a hundred to thousand people may die from coronavirus next month if the virus continues to surge.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) arranged the discussion marking the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.
Fakhrul said people are going through serious sufferings for lack of sufficient Covid test facilities, lack of treatment and ICUs in hospitals.
“This is unfortunate for us that the corona has now taken a terrible turn in the country. The government has not taken any effective preventive measures though the virus has hit the country last year. As a result, the second wave of the virus has come this time, endangering the lives of people and their livelihoods,” he observed.
Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
The BNP leader said though the government has started the mass vaccination drive, it is now unable to provide any assurance to people about when the next consignment of the vaccine doses will arrive in the country. "Now, they're saying they’re trying to get vaccines from China and Russia. But it’s too late. "
JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur, among others, addressed the programme.
Bangladesh set to go under complete lockdown from Apr 14; notification Sunday
As the spread of Coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to issue a notification on Saturday over enforcing a fresh nationwide lockdown from April 14 in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
A fresh lockdown is coming with tougher measures as the virus keeps spreading fast in the country, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said while talking to UNB about the lockdown notification.
“The country saw the highest death from Covid-19 today. The situation will get out of hand if we don’t take tougher measures. So, we’ve decided to go for an all-out lockdown from April 14,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh again breaks daily Covid death record with 77
Replying to a question whether there would be any restriction for April 12 and 13 after the ongoing 7-day lockdown tomorrow (Sunday), the state minister said there would be directives regarding these two days in tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) notification.
Everything except emergency services will be closed this time, said Farhad Hossain adding, “Garment factories, transport movement and all the offices except those of emergency services will remain shut.”
Govt urged to allow export-oriented factories to run during lockdown
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Director Syed Nurul Islam on Saturday urged the government to allow the factories in textiles, garments and accessories sectors to run strictly maintaining health guidelines during the lockdown.
Islam, also a director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said such decision to keep factories operational during lockdown will help the export-oriented sector of the country continue their struggle to sustain amid the Covid-19 situation.
Otherwise, he said, the government’s stimulus package or support will go in vain.
Also read: Bangladesh again breaks daily Covid death record with 77
The Chairman and CEO of Well Group of Industries made the request in a message sent to media on Saturday.
He said if the factories are allowed to operate with strict health guidelines in place, over five million of male and female workers will be able to survive.
The government has decided to put the country under a strict lockdown for a week from April 14 amid a growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
Seventy-seven people died from Covid-19 during 24 hours (till 8am Saturday), according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This is the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 recorded in a day so far in the country while the number of daily deaths on April 8 was 74.
Govt to take strict measures against those who create disorder: Anisul Haque
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said government will take strict measures against anyone who creates disorder and tries to harm public property and people’s lives.
After receiving the second shot of Covid-19 vaccine at city's Armed Forces Medical College Hospital, the Law Minister said this while answering the media.
Also read: Government committed to incorporating ADR into existing laws: Anisul Huq
Anisul Huq warned by saying, ‘Bangladesh has effective law to resist declaration of Jihad or any communal activity against the nation.’
Regarding the second dose of Coronavirus vaccine the minister said taking the second shot will reduce the intensity of the disease.
Also read: Virtual court a new chapter in law: Anisul
Anisul Huq urged everyone to take the second shot by saying ‘Government has the capacity to vaccinate everyone.’
Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
The government is adopting extreme measures to tackle the growing covid infections as people are still reluctant to adhere to health guidelines, putting themselves and others at risk.
“Everything except emergency services will remain shut from April 14. A complete lockdown is coming from April 14 to 20 April,” State Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB on Friday.
Covid infections rose sharply this year in Bangladesh after a dip, prompting the government to issue an 18-point directive for people. But that did not work, forcing the government to go for a seven-day lockdown. People moved on as usual and businesses protested against the lockdown, forcing the government to permit operation of businesses and public transport partially.
Also read: Govt considering complete lockdown from April 14: Quader