COVID-19 situation
1.5 lac cattle ready for slaughter in Chapainawabganj, but will Covid-19 stand in the way?
Livestock farmers in Chapainawabganj have entire herds of cattle they intend to sell for slaughter ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, despite being in the news recently for being crippled by COVID-19.
Officials at the district Livestock Department said around 1.5 lac sacrificial animals are ready to be sacrificed in the district for Eid-ul-Azha.
They are expecting to supply those to other districts after fulfilling local demand, they said.
Read: No cattle from outside country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha: Livestock Minister
The farmers of the district told UNB that there is no need to bring sacrificial animals from the other side of the border keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, as they are confident that the homegrown cattle would be enough to meet the demand.
They also demanded the authorities concerned take steps to halt smuggling of cattle from India to ensure fair prices for local farmers.
Livestock farmers are now busy nurturing cattle in more than 13,000 cattle farms in the district. The financial health of these farms depends to a great extent on good sales for Eid ul Azha.
Local livestock officer doctor Mostafizur Rahman confirmed the numbers to UNB.
Read:Digital Haat 2021 launched with target to sell 1 lakh cattle before Eid
“The total demand of cattle for slaughter in the district is no more than 1.04 lac, but more than 1.5 lac cattle are ready in the district,” he said. That means the farmers plan to sell almost 50,000 cattle to other parts of Bangladesh.
Eid ul Azha is expected to be celebrated in around a fortnight's time in Bangladesh, depending on the sighting of the moon. The country is currently in the midst of a strict lockdown due to Covid-19. But Chapainawabganj has been in lockdown from the last week of May, when cases started shooting up in the district after the Delta variant of the virus, then known simply as the Indian variant, was detected in multiple patients in the frontier district.
In this situation the cattle farmers may face some extra bottlenecks in transporting the cattle to different parts of the country. They may possibly take a leaf out of the mango farmers in the district, another thriving trade in the district.
Read:Enough cattle in Bangladesh for sacrifices during Eid: DLS
While lockdown was imposed in Chapainawabganj, the 'seasonal mango business' was exempted from the restrictions, allowing for the region's famous mangoes to be enjoyed by the entire country, and the farmers to do a roaring trade in the seasonal fruit. Even buyers from outside the district were allowed to go in and buy mangoes.
Whether cattle farmers can benefit from a similar directive remains to be seen.
In the latest numbers, the Covid-19 situation has been improving somewhat in the district. On July 3 the district reported 61 new cases.
Covid swallowing people in Bangladesh; 132 more die
As Covid-19 cases keep surging at a breakneck speed across Bangladesh, the country reported more than 100 deaths for the sixth straight day until early Friday, after confirming its first fatality on March 18 last year.
The new number, 132 deaths, took the country's toll to 14,778. Bangladesh reported 143 deaths on Thursday, its highest-ever daily fatality from the pandemic, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also, 8,483 people were diagnosed with the disease from 30,012 sample tests in the preceding 24 hours, bringing the country's caseload since the beginning of the pandemic to 930,042. Bangladesh reported its highest single-day cases of 8,822 on Wednesday.
The country's test positivity rate reached the peak at 28.27%, which was 25.90% on Thursday and 24.87% on August 4 last year.
Also read: Lockdown: Dhaka dons deserted look on Day 2
Also, new infections have been averaging nearly 7,000 for the past few days – 99% of the peak. The highest daily average was reported on April 9.
Covid positive former fisheries minister Narayan Chandra hospitalised
Former fisheries and livestock Minister Narayan Chandra Chando and also Khulna-5 MP, was hospitalised Wednesday after testing positive.
He was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University at around 9am, Khulna District Awami League Joint Secretary Advocate Farid Ahmed told UNB.
Also read: Bangladesh sees record high daily Covid cases of 8,822; 115 more die
Bangladesh's Covid-19 situation is getting from bad to worse. It reported a record-high number of daily Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours till Wednesday morning after confirming its first cases on March 8 last year.
The country, battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control, also reported more than 100 deaths for a fourth straight day.
Also read: Nationwide mass vaccination to resume Thursday
The new 8,822 cases have pushed Bangladesh's caseload to 913,258, and 115 more fatalities brought its toll to 14,503.
Covid claims 112 more lives in Bangladesh; positivity rate hits 23.97%
The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is gradually heading towards a grim level as the country reported 112 more deaths and 7,666 fresh infections in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new infections, the country’s positivity rate reached another peak of 23.97% from Monday’s 23.86% which was recorded 23.57% last on April 9 this year.
The percentage reached this shocking level after the test of 31,982 samples during the period, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
New infections have been averaging 5,000 for the past few days – 75% of the peak.
Bangladesh is reporting over 100 deaths for the third consecutive day this month.
The country saw a record level of 8,436 Covid cases on Monday and the highest 119 deaths on Sunday since confirming its first cases on March 8 last year.
With the new numbers, the country’s death toll now stands at 14,388 while the caseload at 904,436.
However, the country’s fatality rate remained static at 1.59% while the recovery rate fell to 89.75% following a continuous drop.
Read: Massive vaccination to begin in July: PM
Of the deaths, 35 were reported in Khulna today, recording the highest among all divisions for the third consecutive day, while 22 in Dhaka, 21 in Rajshahi, 16 in Chattogram, 10 in Rangpur, four in Mymensingh, three in Barishal and one in Sylhet divisions.
The Dhaka division remained the highest fatal region recording 7,562 deaths followed by Chattogram with 2,727 deaths, Khulna with 1,235 deaths and Rajshahi with 1,011 deaths.
Border with India to remain closed for another 14 days: Secretary
The border closure with India has been extended for another 14 days till July 14 amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
"All other (previous) conditions remain the same," Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told UNB confirming the extension.
The decision was taken in an inter-ministerial virtual meeting held with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in the chair on Monday.
Also read: Shutting border with India: Experts praise it as prudent decision
Earlier, the government extended the border closure with India for a number of times and it was extended till June 30 before today's latest extension.
The government closed the border with India but cargoes carrying goods are allowed to operate as usual.
As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports.
Also read: Bangladesh puts Satkhira border areas on alert
The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh through only Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-19 negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.
Also read: Thakurgaon seals border areas to contain Covid
CU postpones exams, Dhaka students to return home by university bus
The authorities of Chattagram University on Saturday decided to postpone all exams indefinitely due to the Covid-19 situation deteriorating in the country.
Besides, authorities have arranged four buses to take back the Dhaka bound students currently staying at the campus due to the scheduled exams.
Also read: Dhaka Board to begin HSC registration from June 29
The buses will depart at 12 pm tomorrow and will drop the students off till Sayedabad, Dhaka.
The decision was taken in a virtual meeting chaired by the vice-chancellor of the university Shireen Akhter.
Also read: HSC, SSC exams to be held on brief syllabuses: Dipu Moni
CU Registrar (Acting) SM Monirul Hasantold UNB that , "As per the unanimous decision of the meeting, the examinations of Chittagong University and various educational institutions affiliated to the university have been postponed till further orders.”
CU Proctor Rabiul Hasan Bhuiyan said, "Apart from Dhaka-bound students, students of the respective routes will be able to take university buses."
Read 5 conditions set for online recruitment in public universities
Lockdown in 7 districts from Tuesday as Covid cases soar
The government has announced a 9-day lockdown in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Madaripur, Rajbari and Gopalganj districts from Tuesday as the Covid-19 situation continues to worsen across the country.
Cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam announced the decision at an emergency press briefing on Monday.
Read:13 more die of Covid-19 at RMCH in 24 hrs
The Cabinet Division also issued a circular in this regard.
The circular said the lockdown will remain in force from 6 am on June 22 to June 30 midnight.
However, emergency services like transportation of agricultural equipment and inputs (seeds, fertilizer, insecticides, agri machinery), crops, food items, relief activities, health services, Covid-19 vaccination, water, power, gas, fire service, port activities, telephone, internet services, mass media (electronic and print), private security services, postal services and offices related to emergency services, their employees, vehicles will remain out of the purview of the restrictions, the circular added.
Read:Bangladesh reports alarming 82 Covid deaths, highest in 52 days
Covid situation in Bangladesh
As the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the worse again, 82 more people died of coronavirus in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
During the period, 3,641 more Covid cases were detected after the test of 22,231samples, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Khulna set to go under 7-day strict lockdown from June 22
With the new numbers, the country’s caseload now stood at 851,668 while the death toll at 13,548, said the DGHS handout.
Bangladesh reports alarming 82 Covid deaths, highest in 52 days
As the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh has taken a turn for the worse again, 82 more people died of coronavirus in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
This is the highest daily death toll in the last 52 days as the country logged 88 deaths on April 29 this year.
During the period, 3,641 more Covid cases were detected after the test of 22,231 samples, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This takes the test positivity rate to 16.38% today from Saturday’s 18.02%.
However, the country's fatality rate remained static at 1.59%.
With the new numbers, the country’s caseload now stood at 851,668 while the death toll at 13,548, said the DGHS handout.
As of now, 782,655 people have recovered from the disease taking the recovery rate to 91.90%.
Also read: Bangladesh to start administering Pfizer vaccine doses Monday
Bangladesh’s recovery rate has been falling for more than a week now.
Of the fatalities, Khulna division reported the highest number of 32 deaths for the second consecutive day while Dhaka division 21, Rajshahi 12, Chattogram nine, Mymensingh four, Sylhet two and Barishal and Rangpur divisions one each.
Pfizer vaccine rollout Monday
Bangladesh’s health workers are gearing up to start administering the first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in capital Dhaka on Monday with 100,620 doses of vaccine from COVAX facility.
Prof Shamsul Haque, Line Director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and a member of the Vaccine Distribution Committee, disclosed it in a health briefing on Sunday.
5 detained for trying to sneak into India
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Thursday detained five Bangladeshis -- three women and two children -- in Jhenaidah's Bakoshpota village while they were allegedly trying to sneak into India.
Read:6 held along Jhenaidah border for trespass
The five have been handed over to the local police, officials said on Friday. In fact, since January this year, the border guards have detained a total of 928 people for trying to illegally enter the neighbouring country.
The five detained by the BGB in Maheshpur upazila's Bakoshpota village have been identified as 65-year-old Fulmati Shil, 32-year-old Mita Shil and her nine-year-old son Joy, all residents of Satkhira’s Lautara village, and Banani Mondol, 27, and her son Deb, 8, of Purbo Jhiler Danga village.
Read: 27 held from Jhenaidah border while entering the country illegally
According to the BGB, attempts to illegal crossover to India have not stopped despite the closure of the international border in view of the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis easily sneaking into India can be attributed to a fence-less, porous land border, officials said.
Read:10 killed in Jhenaidah road accident
Bangladesh continues to report alarming Covid deaths
The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh keeps worsening as 50 new deaths and 3,319 infections were recorded in 24 hours till 8 am Tuesday.
The positivity rate fell slightly to 14.27% on Tuesday from Monday’s 14.80%, said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh recorded more than 50 deaths on May 9 this year and over 3,000 cases on April 27.
With the new figures, the country’s death toll now stands at 13,222 while the caseload at 833,291.
During the period, the fatality rate remained static at 1.59%, shows the DGHS handout.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 23,265 samples during the period, while the country so far tested 6,218,979 samples.
As of now, 771,073 people have recovered from Covid infections, putting the country’s recovery rate at 92.53%.
Also read: RMCH sees 12 more Covid deaths in 24 hrs
Rajshahi and Khulna divisions recorded the highest 15 deaths today, while Dhaka and Chattogram divisions recorded six deaths each; Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions three deaths each and Barishal and Rangpur divisions one death each.
Vaccination Drive
Bangladesh, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 vaccination due to jab shortage amid a delay in the arrival of shipments from India.
Some 4,257,499 people got the second dose of this vaccine while the number is 58,20,015 for the first one.
Besides, the total number of people receiving their first jab of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is 2,162.