A team of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has conducted a drive at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital as it has not paid the holding tax since the fiscal year 1998-99. Holding tax is nothing but property tax paid to the local civic body annually. A team led by DSCC Property Officer and Executive Magistrate Muniruzzaman conducted the drive to seal the hospital on Wednesday as it did not pay the holding tax dues of 24 years despite repeated notices. This hospital has not paid DSCC the holding tax dues of Tk2.4 crore for 24 years, the civic body said in a release. "Despite many notices and reminders for over a year, the hospital authorities failed to respond," said Muniruzzaman. Also read: Zafrullah, 4 others sued over ‘negligence in treatment’ at Gonoshasthaya Kendra "However, during the drive, the hospital authorities paid Tk10 lakh initially and promised to pay the remaining dues after  consultation with the mayor," he added. Also read: Gonoshasthaya plasma centre opened

A special drive aimed at closing shops and markets in areas under Dhaka South City Corporation by 8 pm was conducted on Thursday night to contain the spread of Covid-19. The drive was conducted in busy shopping hubs like Pir Yemeni Market, Khaddar Market, Gulistan Trade Center, Dhaka Trade Center, Nilkhet Book Market, Chandni Chawk and the New Market area. DSCC’s executive magistrates Md Munirujjaman and AH Irfan Uddin Ahmed led the drive. Also read: Building materials on roads: DSCC drive from Dec 1 Covid-19 situation On Thursday afternoon, for the third time in four days, Bangladesh recorded its highest daily coronavirus cases as the health authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections. The infection rate jumped to 22.94 percent from 19.9 percent of Wednesday’s when the country recorded 5,358 cases, the highest in months. On Tuesday, 5,042 cases were recorded and the number was 5,181 on Monday. Bangladesh had seen a sharp decline in cases and the daily infection rate dropped below 5 percent, but the sudden spurt appears to have caught the health authorities unawares. There is hardly any bed available at hospitals treating coronavirus patients. The country’s Covid caseload soared to 617,764 after it recorded its highest-ever single day case count, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Also read: DSCC gets down to work since taking charge of canals, culverts Govt strengthens protective steps The daily surge prompted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on Monday to prevent the transmission of the virus. On the same day, the Health Ministry proposed strict measures like partial lockdowns for some places with higher Covid-19 transmission rates. Also read: DSCC starts drive to bring canals back to life Other recommendations made by the ministry include closure of amusement centres and picnic spots, ban on religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine systems, limiting passengers in public transport, and limiting attendance in offices. It also suggested strong enforcement of the ‘no mask, no service’ policy, increasing the number of mobile courts and slapping fines on health guideline violators. Authorities in various districts have shut down amusement centres and are urging people to wear masks. But a large number of people are still reluctant to follow Covid protocols, putting themselves as well as others around them at risk.

Dhaka South City Corporation has shifted 57,000 tonnes of waste and soil from three canals and two box culverts in the last one month since taking charge of Dhaka canals, drainage from WASA, according to DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will launch a drive against building materials stored on roads and pavements from December 1.

Dhaka South City Corporation will start a drive against battery-run rickshaws and vans in the city from Monday.