Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has again tested positive for Covid-19. Hasan  gave his sample for the Covid-19 test at Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (IEDCR) on Sunday and the result turned out positive on Tuesday, Mir Akram Uddin Ahmad, director of the ministry, said in a press release. With this, Hasan, also joint general secretary of the ruling Awami League, tested positive for Covid-19 for the third time. Read: State Minister Khalid contracts Covid again The minister felt sick while performing official tasks at his office in the ministry upon returning from Panchagarh last week, after distributing relief and financial assistance to the relatives of victims who died in a terrific boat capsize in a river of the district recently. Later, he gave samples for the Covid-19 following consultation from the physicians, the release said.

Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has tested positive for Covid-19 and thus he will not be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting from May 15 in Chattogram, it's been confirmed by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Shakib’s unavailability surely comes as a blow for the hosts ahead of this series which is a part of the ICC World Test Championship.  It was not immediately clear if BCB will call a replacement for Shakib.  Shakib missed the second Test of the two-match series against South Africa due to a family emergency.  However, the allrounder took part in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League for the Legends of Rupganj. READ: Shakib to play for Legends of Rupganj in Dhaka League While the first Test of the Sri Lanka series will begin on May 15, the second and final Test will be played in Dhaka from May 23.  Bangladesh team is already in Chattogram while Sri Lanka are busy playing a two-day practice match in BKSP on May 10 and 11. They will travel to Chattogram after this practice match. 

BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu has been infected with coronavirus. Talking to UNB, Bulu said he underwent the Covid-19 test on Thursday and his report came out positive. The BNP leader said he has been suffering from coughing and sneezing for the last few days. “I’ve been receiving treatment as per doctor’s advice staying in isolation.” He urged all to pray for his speedy recovery. READ: Arrest warrant issued against BNP leader Rizvi, 7 others Bulu said he was supposed to join a rally of their party in Noakhali, but he is now unable to go there due to the Covid infection. “I’m giving the local leaders and activists necessary directions over the phone to make the programme a success.” As part of their countrywide programmes, Noakhali district unit BNP has organised the rally demanding party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. READ: BNP leader Mirza Abbas hospitalised

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Sunday said Bangladesh has been able to send a strong message to the world in terms of keeping positive GDP growth even in the pandemic. During a meeting with Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Rizwan Rahman, the Japanese envoy said the “Japanese Economic Zone” in Araihazar will be operational by next year and it will expedite Japanese investments in Bangladesh. Ambassador Naoki said a joint study can be conducted with an initiative of both the governments to sign a free trade agreement (FTA). READ: Genuinely excited to welcome Bangladesh Olympic team to Tokyo: Japanese envoy He also mentioned that smooth customs clearance facilities, import transactions, better infrastructure of EPZ and EZ and skilled human resources will boost ease of doing business. The Ambassador said Japan’s Mitsubishi has completed their feasibility study and they will make a decision on investment in Bangladesh next year. Automotive industry in Bangladesh could be an emerging investment destination for Japanese entrepreneurs, said DCCI President Rizwan Rahman. He said Bangladesh and Japan have had a strong bilateral business relationship since long and thanked the Japanese government for providing Covid vaccine for the Bangladeshi people. The DCCI President said Bangladesh mainly exports RMG products to Japan and urged the Ambassador to facilitate other promising products for export to Japan. He said Japan can play a vital role in skill development in Bangladesh and share technical know-how and train Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.  He thanked the Japanese entrepreneurs who had already registered in “Bangladesh Trade & Investment Summit” to be jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and DCCI from October 26. READ: COVAX Facility: Japan to provide 30mn vaccine doses to other countries DCCI Senior Vice President N K A Mobin, Vice President Monowar Hossain and Second Secretary (Economic Affairs and Development Cooperation Section) of Japan Embassy Shirahata Kasumi were also present during the meeting.

Three Bangladeshis, who recently returned from India, have tested positive for Covid-19. Of them, one is a 50-year-old woman. The other two are men, aged 25 and 40 years. They are originally residents of Satkhira, Tangail and Kushtia, respectively. Civil Surgeon of Magura district Dr Md Shahidulla Dewan said the three patients have been shifted to the Corona ward of Magura Hospital from an institutional quarantine centre in the district. Read:Covid patient infected with Indian variant held in Chandpur Genome sequencing is in process to determine if the patients are infected with the Indian double mutant variant, said the Civil Surgeon. "Within 72 hours, the reports will come,” he said. On May 8 and 9, a total of 101 Bangladeshis returned through Benapole land port and were kept under institutional quarantine at three different hotels. Of them, samples of 97 were sent to Jashore University of Science and Technology on Wednesday, excluding the four, who were already transferred to the hospital for treatment. On Thursday, these three returnees were confirmed Covid positive as the administration received reports of 67 of them. Read: 10-year-old India returnee tests positive for Covid in Jashore As India has been experiencing a new strain of Covid-19, the government imposed restrictions along the border areas of Bangladesh. According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world. Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh only through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala, and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificate.  

A 10-year-old boy, who returned from India with his mother and maternal uncle on May 5, has tested positive for Covid-19. The child, a cancer patient, was admitted to the dedicated Covid care facility at Jahsore General Hospital on Wednesday night, said Sharsha Upazila Health officer Dr Yusuf Ali. Read:11 more India returnees test positive for Covid-19 The boy had gone to India for treatment, along with his mother and maternal uncle. On May 5, the trio returned home through Benapole Port and were sent to Jashore Quarantine Centre. "Following government directives, the samples of the three were sent for testing and the report came on Wednesday night. Only the boy has tested positive for Covid-19," said Sheikh Abu Shahin, Jashore Civil Surgeon. Meanwhile the 14-day mandatory quarantine period of the family is now over and the local administration has provided a release order to the boy’s mother and uncle. As India has been experiencing a new strain of Covid-19, the government imposed restrictions along the border areas of Bangladesh. According to the World Health Organisation, the Indian variant has already spread to 60 countries across the world. Read:36 India returnees sent to Cumilla for institutional quarantine Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh only through Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala, and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificate.  

The seven individuals who were arrested today for having escaped from Jashore General Hospital (JGH) while admitted as Covid-19 patients have been released on bail following a court appearance. Jashore Judicial Magistrate Mahadi Hasan granted their bail application at 4:30 pm today, confirmed our Jashore correspondent. Earlier today, seven of the ten individuals who caused a furore by fleeing from the 250-bed district general hospital last April 23-24 (they were later brought back) were arrested by the police upon discharge from JGH. Although they were later found and brought back to the medical facility,  the incident triggered concern regarding the spread of a highly transmissible and deadly Indian variant of Covid-19, as seven of the escapees had just returned from India.  The arrestees  have been identified as MoniMala Datta, 49,  Milon Hossain, 32,  Nasima Aktar, 50,  Bibekananda, 52, Amirul Sana, 52, Sohel Sardar, 17,  and Fatema, 19. They were held immediately upon release from the hospital. Besides, the court arrest warrants were issued on Sunday against all 10 people who had escaped from the hospital on April 23-24. The other three are still undergoing treatment at the hospital. The arrest warrants were issued after Jashore Kotwali police station filed a non-FIR prosecution under Section 25 (2) of the Infectious Diseases Prevention (Prevention, Control and Eradication) Act, 2016. Kotwali Police Station OC Tajul Islam said the court had issued arrest warrants against 10 people who had escaped from the hospital while under treatment for Covid-19. Seven of them were arrested and sent to court today, he added. Also read: Fled from Dhaka, coronavirus-infected couple held in Rajbari Indian variant in Bangladesh Two cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant were detected  at the Genome Centre of Jessore University of Science and Technology on May 8  Earlier in that day, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the first case of Indian coronavirus variant in Bangladesh The Indian strain of the virus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka and it has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir. Also read: 98 workers held who fled EPZs, sent to home quarantine Bangladesh suspends border with India for 14 more days Bangladesh on Saturday extended the closure of land borders with India for 14 more days, hours after the country detected six cases of the Indian variant of the COVID-19.  The land borders with India were sealed on April 26 in view of the worsening coronavirus situation in the neighbouring country. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh held 27 people including women and children while trying to enter through Jhenaidah border today, which proves the government's commitment in executing the decision. 

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