State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said the government has been working with everyone to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.   He made this remark while distributing relief goods among 500 distressed people at Gor-e-Shahid Baro Maidan in Dinajpur.   “Bangladesh will be able to prevent coronavirus if everybody stays united,” he said.

New York has ramped up efforts to prevent transmission of coronavirus by making it mandatory to wear face coverings in places where it is not possible to stay at least six feet away from other people.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support Bangladesh in tackling novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak challenges, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash said.   Parkash had talks with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in this regard recently, according to a media statement issued Saturday.   The discussions included the government’s preparedness for mitigating any potential outbreak, its economic impact, and possible ADB support following a government request for assistance.    Bangladesh has requested ADB to provide assistance to help tackle challenges of a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the country, Parkash said, noting that as a long-standing development partner, ADB is committed to assist Bangladesh in this difficult time.    “We have initiated the process of quickly exploring the financing modality and other details in close coordination with the government and other stakeholders,” he said.   The global public health emergency, which has been dubbed a pandemic by the World Health Organization, calls for urgent measures to respond to the disease as well as tackling its economic fallouts.   ADB has recently announced $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries as they respond to the pandemic.    ADB’s previous responses to COVID-19 include $200 million made available through its Supply Chain Finance Program for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat coronavirus.    ADB’s response to date also includes $2 million announced on February 7 to enhance detection, prevention, and response in China and the Greater Mekong Subregion; another $2 million announced on February 26 to support response in all its developing members; and $18.6 million private sector loan, signed on February 25, to China-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited to support the continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment.    Another grant of $600,000 was provided to Sri Lanka on March 13.