Bangladesh on Friday saw 212 Covid-19 deaths, the highest number since the pandemic hit the country, amid a strict nationwide lockdown in effect since July 1. Also, Covid-19 infections in the country are at their peak now, with 9,665 new cases reported each day – the highest daily average. The country recorded 11,324 infections in 24 hours till Friday morning after testing 36,850 samples. Bangladesh reported its highest daily Covid-19 fatality of 201 on Wednesday and 11, 651 cases on Thursday. The country is in the grip of a second wave of the coronavirus that is threatening to overwhelm its health service. Also read: Dhaka reemerging as Covid hotspot as battle plan ‘fails’: Experts There have been 1,000,543 infections and 16,004 coronavirus-related deaths in Bangladesh since the pandemic began, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. However, the test positivity rate dropped to 14.49%. The daily positivity rate of 31.62% on Thursday raised concerns among experts as the World Health Organization recommended a 5% or below rate. Meanwhile, the death rate remains unchanged at 1.60%, and the recovery rate dropped to 86.19%. Khulna division reported the highest 79 deaths, Dhaka 53, Chattogram 26, Rajshahi 23, Rangpur 12, Mymensingh eight, Sylhet six and Barishal five. Also read: Global Covid cases top 185 million Hospitals are now overwhelmed with patients and struggling to cope as the country is experiencing a devastating second wave of Covid infections, driven by the Delta variant. The Prime Minister's Office on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to increase oxygen supply and corona beds in hospitals across the country to ensure the treatment of Covid-19 patients. So far, Bangladesh has administered at least 10,114,578 doses of Covid vaccines – enough to have vaccinated around 3.1% of the country's population, assuming every person needs two doses.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is manifesting her humanitarian gesture towards the needy people hit hard by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as she did during the first wave last year. She is extending humanitarian support to the low-income people, including extremely poor, workless, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers and farmers who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. More than Tk 1,500 crore has already been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalised people during the second wave of coronavirus. As part of her humanitarian assistance, the Prime Minister is going to provide cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive this tough time. On Sunday next, she will inaugurate the disbursement of the financial assistance for these marginalised families. Also read: People’s lives come first: PM Hasina “Soon after the second wave of coronavirus got visible, the Prime Minister instantly directed to start humanitarian assistance activities,” said Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah. Noting that the Prime Minister sent cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh families during the first wave, he said, “This time, she directed us to make cash transfer for the second time. The Prime Minister will launch the cash support disbursement among 36.5 lakh poor and helpless families on May 2.”   She has kept aside Tk 912.50 crore to provide cash support to 36.5 lakh families across the country, said the Secretary. Each family will directly receive Tk 2,500 through G2P (Government-to-Person) as the cash money will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) – Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash. Since the Covid-19 lockdown is enforced from April 14 last, marginalised people like temporary workless, destitute, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers, Hijra and beggars in urban and rural areas, said the PMO Secretary. As per the PM’s directives, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk 590 crore to the field-level administration to provide support to the needy people and now the disbursement of the money continues, he said. Also read: Covid vaccines should be declared as global public goods: PM Hasina Besides, the Prime Minister allocated Tk 10.5 crore against the deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to poor and destitute people, said the PMO Secretary. In addition, different government agencies continue their social safety net activities and expedite the activities in some cases so that the general people would not suffer, PMO Secretary Miah said. The Prime Minister with own initiative has provided Tk 10 crore to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardships due to the fallout of the pandemic, he said. He said the government introduced a call centre (333) service mainly targeting the middle class people who feel hesitation or ashamed to seek assistance publicly. If anyone seeks help by calling 333, the local administration would send assistance to his or her home secretly, said the secretary. Tofazzel Hossain said harvesting of paddy in the Haor region is being completed quickly as per the Prime Minister’s directives and 80 percent paddy has already been harvested. He said the local administration took initiative to hire workers from other regions for harvesting paddy in the Haor region, while the ministry concerned supplied harvesters and reapers to the region.

Community Radios have been broadcasting various programmes 160 hours a day for tackling the second wave of COVID–19 pandemic and Info-demic by following the government instructions. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been exploring and sharing the updated information and materials needed by the radio stations, according to a press release. The content of the programme motivates community people to stay at home and be safe, take COVID–19 vaccine immediately, avoid gathering, wear the mask. wash hands frequently, etc. Community Radio broadcasts are a useful means to share community information, especially to the most remote populations. In rural Bangladesh, people depend on it as their primary source of information. Read Workshop on COVID-19 held for Dalits Since the lockdown is going on and the community radio stations have been broadcasting COVID-19 related programme through community service announcement (CSA) Radio Spots, Jingle, Drama, magazine, interviews of Upazila and District Corona Prevention Committee, District and Upazila Administration, and vaccination team on COVID-19 and community people’s voices too. Community Radio broadcasters are working by maintaining a close liaison with the Local Corona Committees, Communities, District, and Upazila Administration for updates. Community Radios have restricted visitors’ entry in the premises, make the security alert, monitor body temperature of broadcasters, and disinfecting equipment and other accessories frequently and regularly. The Community Radios are broadcasting programme with special emphasis to provide COVID-19 vaccine to the disadvantaged and marginalised community people and ensure government incentive package for the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalised community during the lockdown. Community people are making phone calls and sending SMS during the live broadcasting to share their queries. They are maintaining social distancing, handwashing with soap, and avoiding all public gatherings. National print and online dailies have published the initiatives that are being fostered by the community Radios to prevent the second wave of COVID–19 pandemic. BNNRC has been working for adaptation and coping with the new normal situation of COVID-19 pandemic demands and reset new objectives to enhance the capabilities of affected communities through an equity lens for adapting, coping, surviving with the new normal situation. Read Community radio stations start broadcasting on flash flood