The government has no plan right now to shut educational institutions even though Covid-19 cases keep rising across the world, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque. “Covid infections are on the rise in many countries but it is still under control in Bangladesh. The educational institutions are here and the government has no plan to close those now,” he said. The Health Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters at a programme on distributing blankets among destitute people in Manikganj on Saturday. The government has decided to operate public transport, including buses and trains at half of their capacities to contain the spread of Covid-19, he said adding, “The directives will come soon to enforce the decision.” READ: New restrictions soon to fight off Covid: Health Minister The government has taken some steps to stem the Covid-19 and the hospitals, nurses and physicians in the districts and upazilas have been kept ready to provide medical services, said Maleque. Besides, the government decided to close shops and markets by 8 pm and not to allow unvaccinated people to take food at restaurants, he said. Issuing a note of  warning that people will be fined through mobile courts if found without masks, the minister said, “As the Covid-19 situation in the country is under control, the wheels of the economy are still moving and the production activities in factories are seen as normal. The students are able to attend their classes.”

The mayor of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has ordered the closure of hazardous buildings in the city for 10 days to avoid damage from seismic activity. On Sunday afternoon, City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury accompanied by executive magistrates and policemen visited some of the buildings at risk including markets in the city and passed this order. Earlier on Saturday the city was jolted by five tremors. READ: Five quakes hit Sylhet According to experts, there is a risk of a large-scale quake in the coming weeks. SCC had been preparing to prevent the loss of lives in case the quake hits. Mayor Ariful told reporters that all buildings in poor condition will be identified; traders and authorities concerned of all hazardous markets and buildings in the city will be instructed for a 10-day closure. People living in hazardous building will have to stay elsewhere for the next 10 days as well, he said READ: Chinese worker's death: Wife files murder complaint against colleague in Sylhet SCC has already identified such buildings in the city and alarmed the concerned people in this regard.

Trade with India through the Benapole Land Port will remain suspended from May 13 to May 15 during the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of the Muslims. Import-export activities through the port remained suspended on Monday on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr, the holiest night in the Islamic calendar. Assistant Director of the port Atiqul Islam said export-import, customs and other activities will remain shut from Thursday due to Eid holiday. Trade activities will resume from May 16, he said. Also read: 105 Bangladeshis return from India through Benapole Deputy Director of the port (traffic) Mamun Trafdar said security will be tightened at the port. Benapole port police station’s Officer-in-Charge Azizul Haque said they will remain alert to avert any untoward incident during the holiday. Benapole check post’s immigration Officer-in-Charge Ahsan Habib said no-one can travel to India or come to Bangladesh from the neighbouring country through the port due to the travel ban imposed on April 26. But those who got stuck in India before the border shutdown can return by securing release paper from the concerned High Commission. They must complete a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, he said.

Authorities on Tuesday closed Jahangirnagar University (JU) for an indefinite period following a clash between protesting students and ‘VC-backed teachers and Chhatra League men’.