Considering the current situation, Bangladesh Bank has instructed all banks and financial institutions to not charge any extra fees for late payment of credit card bills, and loan installments. The central bank issued a directive to banks and financial institutions in two separate notifications in this regard on Wednesday. Those who had time to pay their loan installments, credit card bills, and savings deposit installments during the curfew and public holidays can make the payments till July 31. Bangladesh Bank has said that banks and financial institutions will not collect any additional interest, penalties or late fees for installments/card bills payable between July 18 and 25. No savings scheme can be canceled due to failure to pay installment during this time. According to the central bank notification, many borrowers and credit card users have not been able to pay their dues to the banks on time due to the current situation. Read more: Offices, banks reopen for four hours; Commuters suffer amid traffic gridlock Besides, many depositors could not deposit installments of various savings schemes including Deposit Pension Scheme (DPS) on time. Under the circumstances, the new guidelines will be effective from July 18 to 25 in respect to dues of loans, credit card bills, and installments of various savings schemes including DPS. The Bangladesh Bank directive stated that if the loan and credit card dues are paid by July 31, any interest or profit and penalty interest, additional interest, excess profit, late fee on the outstanding amount will be deducted. If installments of savings schemes are paid by July 31, no late fee or penalty can be collected. Apart from this, interest or profit and penalty interest or late fee on any loan or credit card and any kind of late fee or penalty on various savings schemes that has already been collected has to be refunded or adjusted. Read more: Overcrowding and long queues as banks reopen today for only 4 hours

 Police enforced a curfew in a community on the southern fringes of Jamaica’s capital Saturday after gunmen fired on people boarding a public minibus, wounding seven, including three children. The Jamaica Constabulary Force gave no information on the conditions of the wounded from the brazen attack, which occurred at midafternoon Friday in Seaview Gardens, a poor area of Kingston. There was speculation the gunmen were targeting one of the people trying to get on the bus, but authorities did not comment on a possible motive. Conflict among rival gangs has been blamed for an uptick in violence in the community. Authorities ordered a two-day curfew in Seaview Gardens, and police said they were looking for two men for questioning about the shooting. Crime statistics released by the police say 303 people were killed on the island in the first three months of this year, 20% fewer than during the same period of 2022.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday that his party was ready to defy a curfew even to make their upcoming anti-government rally in Khulna a success. He made the remarks in the wake of a decision by transport owners and workers in Khulna to suspend bus services ahead of their party’s rally in the southwestern region’s biggest city on Saturday. “They (govt) also stopped vehicle movements in Mymensingh, but they failed to stop people. In the same way, you’ll see people will join the rally in Khulna to push their demand for democracy, no matter whether the transport service is suspended or not,” he told reporters at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office after talks with two political parties. He said people came to their Mymensingh rally by trawlers, boats, rickshaws and on foot. “Even, many rickshawpullers did not take fare from them (BNP leaders and activists). This is called people’s participation. Even, we won’t concede to any hartal, curfew as we’ll be present there (Khulna) by braving all obstacles,” he said.    As his attention was drawn to the Prime Minister’s previous comment that BNP would be allowed to hold political programmes, Fakhrul said Awami League still could not live up to its any word or promise. “They do the opposite of what they say. So, there’s no reason to believe Awami League.” About Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark that BNP is daydreaming of another 1/11 like political changeover, he said the Awami League has the habit of doing that. “That’s why they think like that." “We don’t daydream. We dream of seeing a democratic Bangladesh, restoring people’s voting rights, and establishing true democracy," the BNP leader observed. Replying to a question, he said BNP has no objection if the ruling party takes to the streets exercising their democratic rights. “At the same time, the democratic rights of all the opposition parties also must be ensured.  As government, it’s their responsibility to do.” Earlier on Wednesday, Khulna bus-minibus owners association and motor workers’ union decided to keep bus services suspended on October 21 and 22 due to the BNP’s divisional rally on Saturday (October 22). Read: BNP public rally: Bus services in Khulna to remain suspended Oct 21, 22 As part of its divisional rallies, BNP is expected to organise the rally on Sonali Bank premises in Khulna city in protest against the price hikes in fuel and daily essentials and the killing of five BNP leaders and activists in the recent movement and demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The party has already arranged two massive rallies in Chattogram and Mymensingh. BNP leaders alleged that many BNP leaders and activists were attacked, arrested and implicated in ‘false’ cases in Chattogram and Mymensingh over holding the rally. Talks with two parties Earlier, Fakhrul had separate meetings with the delegations of Bangladesh Jatiya Dal and Bangladesh Islamic Party, two components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, as part of their party’s second round of political dialogue. Fakhrul said that they agreed to some demands of their coming simultaneous movement, including the ouster of the current government, restoration of democracy, unconditional release of Khaleda Zia and withdrawal of the false cases filed against the opposition leaders and activists and holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government. “We’ll initiate a simultaneous movement focusing on these issues.”

Police imposed a curfew in Sri Lanka’s capital and surrounding areas on Friday, a day before a planned protest demanding the resignations of the country’s president and prime minister because of the economic crisis that has caused severe shortages of essential goods and disrupted people’s livelihoods. Hours before the curfew announcement, police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesting students wearing black clothes, holding black flags, shouting anti-government slogans and carrying banners saying “Enough — now go.” The protesters and other critics have said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is responsible for the economic crisis, the worst since the country's independence in 1948. They also blame Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister two months ago, for not delivering on promises to end the shortages. Civic and opposition activists have announced that thousands more protesters will gather in Colombo on Saturday. But the police announcement of the curfew said it took effect at 9 p.m. and will last until further notice in Colombo and its suburbs. The curfew announcement drew criticism from government opponents and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, which said the “curfew is blatantly illegal and a violation of the fundamental rights.” The bar association statement asked police to immediately withdraw what the association called an "illegal order” imposing the curfew. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa called the curfew“a fraud." Read: Sri Lanka PM says talks with IMF difficult due to bankruptcy “Get on to the streets tomorrow. Defy the dictatorship and join with the people to make democracy victorious. Yes we can,” he said in a tweet. The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, asked people to protest peacefully and asked the military and police “to grant peaceful protestors the space and security to do so.” “Chaos & force will not fix the economy or bring the political stability that Sri Lankans need right now,” Chung said in a tweet. Sri Lanka is nearly bankrupt and has suspended repayments of $7 billion in foreign debt due this year. It must pay back more than $5 billion annually until 2026. Its foreign reserves are nearly wiped out and it is unable to import food, fuel, cookng gas and medicine. A lack of fuel to run power stations has resulted in extended daily power cuts. People must stand in lines for hours to buy fuel and gas. The country has survived mostly on credit lines extended by neighboring India to buy fuel and other essentials. Because of the economic crisis, inflation has spiked and prices of essentials have soared, dealing a severe blow to poor and vulnerable groups. Due to the fuel and power shortages, schools have been shut for weeks and the government has asked state employees other than those in essential services to work from home. The country is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout package, but Wickremesinghe said this week that the negotiations are difficult because Sri Lanka is effectively bankrupt. He earlier said the country’s economy had “collapsed.” The economic crisis has triggered a political upheaval, with widespread anti-government protests. Protesters have blocked main roads to demand fuel, and people in some areas have fought over limited stocks. Also read: With no fuel and no cash, Sri Lanka keeps schools closed In Colombo, protesters have occupied the entrance to the president’s office for nearly three months to demand his resignation. They accuse him and his powerful family, which includes several siblings who until recently held Cabinet positions, of precipitating the crisis through corruption and misrule. Months of protests have nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. One of Rajapaksa’s brothers resigned as prime minister last month, and two other brothers and a nephew quit their Cabinet posts earlier.   President Rajapaksa has admitted he did not take steps to head off the economic collapse early enough, but has refused to leave office. It is nearly impossible to oust presidents under the constitution unless they resign on their own.  

The administration of Feni’s Fulgazi upazila has imposed a curfew at Daulatpur village of the upazila on Saturday. The imposition of the curfew came after a clash between Fulgazi chapters of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday. According to the order signed by Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ashrafun Nahar, both the AL and the BNP’s Fulgazi units had called for relief distribution programs at the upazila’s Daulatpur village. A clash ensued when both groups tried to conduct their pre-scheduled programs simultaneously. According to Alal Uddin Alal, Member Secretary of Feni District BNP, prior to Friday’s attack, the AL men launched another attack at their preparatory meeting for the relief program, leaving 30 of their activists injured. Read: Section 144 to be imposed in Feni on Wednesday General Sceretary of Fulgazi Upazila AL Harunur Rashid Majumder claimed that it was the BNP men who had attacked Sadar union Jubo League President Nizam Company and injured five of his men. Md Moin Uddin, Officer In-charge of Fulgazi police station, said that the curfew has been imposed to contain any untoward situation. “Police have ramped up its patrolling in the area. We are being cautious to thwart any unexpected situation,” Moin said.

Opposition lawmakers and people angered by the government's handling of Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis on Sunday marched to denounce the president's move to impose a nationwide curfew and state of emergency, as protests over food and fuel shortages swelled. Internet users were unable to access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp and other social media platforms for nearly 15 hours on Sunday after authorities blocked access. Apparently due to the growing criticism, access to social media was later restored. The platforms have been used to organize protests calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, saying he is responsible for the country’s deepening economic woes. Also read: Sri Lanka blocks social media amid calls for more protests Sri Lanka is under a nationwide curfew until Monday morning after Rajapaksa assumed emergency powers at midnight Friday. More protests were taking place throughout the country on Sunday as anger over people waiting in long lines for essential foods, fuel and hourslong rotating power cuts boiled over. Facebook posts showed crowds of young people shouting anti-government slogans and singing songs. The emergency declaration by Rajapaksa gives him wide powers to preserve public order, suppress mutiny, riot or civil disturbances or for the maintenance of essential supplies. Under the decree, the president can authorize detentions, seizure of property and search of premises. He can also change or suspend any law except the constitution. In the capital, the lawmakers marched toward Colombo's main square, shouting slogans and carrying placards that read “Stop Suppression” and “Gota go home.” Gota is a shortened version of the president's first name. Armed soldiers and police officers set up barricades on the road leading to the square, which was built to commemorate the country's independence from Britain in 1948. Also read: Sri Lanka imposes 36-hour curfew under state of emergency “This is unconstitutional," opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told troops who prevented the lawmakers from walking to the square. "You are violating the law. Please think of the people who are suffering. Why are you protecting a government like this?” Another lawmaker, Nalin Bandara, said: “How long can they rule under emergency? The first instance when the curfew is lifted, people are going to be back on the streets." Sri Lanka faces huge debt obligations and dwindling foreign reserves, and its struggle to pay for imports has caused a lack of basic supplies. People wait in long lines for gas, and power is cut for several hours daily because there’s not enough fuel to operate power plants and dry weather has sapped hydropower capacity. The island nation’s economic woes are blamed on a failure of successive governments to diversify exports, instead relying on traditional cash sources like tea, garments and tourism, and on a culture of consuming imported goods. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the economy with the government estimating a loss of $14 billion in the last two years. Protesters also point to mismanagement — Sri Lanka has immense foreign debt after borrowing heavily on projects that don’t earn money. Its foreign debt repayment obligations are around $7 billion for this year alone. The crisis has hit people from all walks of life. Middle class professionals and business people who would normally not take part in street protests have been holding nightly rallies with candles and placards in many parts of the country.

Sri Lanka declared an islandwide curfew from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Monday as the country faced a severe power crisis and rising inflation. On Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued the Extraordinary Gazette declaring a state of public emergency in Sri Lanka with immediate effect. READ: Sri Lanka’s president declares emergency amid protests Rajapaksa said the emergency was declared in the interests of public security, protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community. A protest has been planned via social media for Sunday.

Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on Ukraine’s capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts. Ukraine’s leader, meanwhile, vowed to continue fighting the Russian assault as he appealed for more outside help. “The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message in which he accused Russia of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets. “We will win,” he said. Central Kyiv appeared quiet on Saturday, though sporadic gunfire could be heard. And fighting on the city’s outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the center of the city. As Russian troops pressed their offensive with small groups of troops reported inside Kyiv, the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, extended an overnight curfew to run from 5 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. on Monday, saying any civilians out past curfew “will be considered members of the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups.” Youtube video thumbnailRussia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south. Ukraine’s health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others had been wounded during Europe’s largest land war since World War II. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties. In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the southwestern outskirts near one of the city’s two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured. The conflict has driven thousands of Ukrainians from their homes in search of safety. U.N. officials said more than 120,000 Ukrainians had left the country for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine after he spent weeks denying that’s what he intended, all the while building up a force of almost 200,000 troops along the countries’ borders. He claims the West has failed to take seriously Russia’s security concerns about NATO, the Western military alliance that Ukraine aspires to join. But he has also expressed scorn about Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state. Putin has has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscow’s Cold War-era influence. It was unclear in the fog of war how much territory Russian forces have seized. Britain’s Ministry of Defense said “the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.” A senior U.S. defense official said Saturday that more than half of the Russian combat power that was massed along Ukraine’s borders had entered Ukraine, and that Russia has had to commit more fuel supply and other support units inside Ukraine than originally anticipated. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, did not provide further details.

Authorities on Saturday imposed a week-long night curfew in three municipalities and three unions of Narail's Sadar upazila to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission in the district. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the District Coronavirus Prevention Committee on Friday night, in view of a surge in Covid cases in the three municipalities and the three unions. READ: No hotel vacancy in Benapole and Narail Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman said the curfew will remain in force from 6 pm to 8 am in Narail, Lohagara and Kalia municipalities, and Kalor, Singasholepur and Bichali unions of Sadar upazila. Legal action will be initiated against anyone found violating the restrictions and Covid-safety protocols. READ: Section 144 imposed in Narail

The government of the Indian capital Tuesday announced a night curfew across the city in the wake of a relentless surge in Covid-19 cases. The night curfew will be in place daily from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30, the government of Delhi said in an order. Also Read: Fresh lockdown in India as Covid-19 cases near 1mln On Monday, Delhi recorded as many as 3,548 fresh Covid-19 cases and 15 deaths. The same day, India registered the highest number of cases in 24 hours -- at one lakh. The Delhi government's  order comes barely four days after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the national capital was going through the fourth wave of Covid-19 but a lockdown was not being considered yet. "As per the current situation, we are not considering imposing a lockdown. We are closely monitoring the situation and such a decision will only be taken after due public consultation," he said Friday. According to the government order, restuarants, night clubs and malls will not be allowed to operate after 10 pm. However, there will be no restrictions on emergency traffic movement during the curfew hours. Exceptions have also been made for those in essential services, including doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, as well as pregnant women and journalists, the government said in its order. Delhi is actually part of a region known as the National Capital Territory. The city is ruled by Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party-led government, but Delhi Police comes under the direct control of the central government. However, Delhi's neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region such as Noida and Gurgaon, are yet to impose night curfew, despite a surge in the number of corona cases and deaths in recent weeks. Two Indian states -- Maharashtra and Rajasthan -- have already imposed similar restrictions to break the chain of Covid transmission. Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is India's worst-affected city in terms of cases and deaths.