coronavirus in bangladesh
Covid-infected Ekattor TV journalist dies
Ekattor TV Associate News Producer Rifat Sultana, who tested positive for Covid-19 a week ago, died at a city hospital Friday evening after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The 32-year-old journalist had also been suffering from pregnancy-related complications.
Parvez Reza, special correspondent of the private TV channel, confirmed the news to UNB saying: "Rifat's husband and mother-in-law also tested Covid-19 positive."
Also read: Ex-law minister Abdul Matin Khasru dies
She had to undergo a Caesarean delivery on Thursday and the newborn baby has been kept in another private hospital in the city.
The private television channel also shared the news of Rifat's death on its verified Facebook page.
Meantime, Bangladesh broke its previous records of single-day death count with 101 fatalities in 24 hours until Friday morning although the number of new cases remained below the 5,000-mark.
Also read Covid-19: Bangladesh shatters single-day fatalities record with 101 deaths
The death tally now stands at 10,182 with a mortality rate of 1.43%, the Directorate General of Health Services said.
Also, the daily infection rate climbed to 23.36% with 4,417 new cases.
Lockdown day 3: Dhaka streets largely deserted
The streets of capital Dhaka were largely deserted on the third day of a nationwide ‘strict’ lockdown compared to the first two days.
Rickshaws, which were seen plying the city streets in the early days of the lockdown, were hardly seen today.
Visiting Kakoli and Banani Chairman Bari on New Airport Road, Gulshan-1, Gulshan-2, Progoti Sarani, Merul Badda and Rampura areas, this correspondent saw vary few private cars and other private vehicles out on the streets.
Also read: Govt to expats: Don’t come during lockdown, except for emergencies
Traffic Inspector Asaduzzaan of Mohakhali area said the number of private vehicles as well as rickshaws is very thin on the weekend.
All shops and business establishments on the main streets were seen closed on Friday.
At the checkposts, the law enforcers did not stop people as often as they did on the first two days.
A large number of Muslim devotees were seen attending Jum’a prayers. Shops and shopping malls remained closed. However, kitchen markets were open as usual but they were not operating in open spaces violating the government directives. Besides, many people were seen ignoring health guidelines.
A surge in coronavirus cases prompted the government to go for a strict lockdown to contain the virus’ transmission. Bangladesh recorded over 7,000 daily cases before the number fell below 4,500.
Also read: Lockdown: Many in Dhaka ignore restrictions in open defiance
On Friday, the country recorded 101 deaths - its highest single-day fatality - and 4,417 new cases.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus case on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 the same year.
Amid the worsening Covid-19 situation, the government last week resorted to tough measures. The lockdown which began at 6am on April 14, will be in effect until April 21 midnight.
Akram hospitalised with Covid-19 symptoms
Former Bangladesh captain and current director of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Akram Khan, has been admitted to a hospital in the capital with Covid-19 symptoms.
Akram remained in isolation at his home as had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10.
On Thursday, the former captain was admitted to the hospital out of precaution, Debashis Chowdhury, the chief physician of BCB, said.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh shatters single-day fatalities record with 101 deaths
One of Akram's family members told the media that the former captain had been suffering from a cough for the last few days. After carrying out his Covid-19 tests, the doctors advised him to get admitted to a hospital.
Due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, the National Cricket League has been postponed after the first two rounds.
Also read: South Asia fast becoming new global epicentre of Covid-19: IFRC
The country is now undergoing a week-long "strict" lockdown to curb the transmission of Covid-19. The new restrictions will continue until April 21.
Earlier, the government had imposed another week-long lockdown from April 5.
Alarm for Bangladesh as Covid’s daily death toll hits a new record of 101
Bangladesh broke its previous records of single-day death count with 101 fatalities in 24 hours until Friday morning although the number of new cases remained below the 5,000 mark.
The death tally now stands at 10,182 with a mortality rate of 1.43 percent, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a handout.
With 4,417 new cases, the daily infection rate climbed to 23.36 percent.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
So far, 711,779 cases have been confirmed, with 602,908 recoveries (84.7 percent of all patients) – including 5,694 in the last 24 hours.
Until now, 5,134,478 tests, including 18,906 in the last 24 hours, have been conducted. RT-PCR tests, considered the gold standard for Covid-19 testing, are being conducted at 121 facilities – 52 government and 69 private labs.
Also read: South Asia fast becoming new global epicentre of Covid-19: IFRC
SAF launches Covid-19 testing booth for frontline doctors
The Salma Adil Foundation (SAF), in collaboration with Chittagong Medical College Teachers Association (CMCTA), installed a dedicated Covid-19 testing booth for the frontline doctors at Shah Alam Bir Uttam auditorium of Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).
The Covid-19 testing booth was officially inaugurated on Tuesday (April 13, 2021) morning.
During the ceremony, Professor Dr Shahena Akter, Principal, Chittagong Medical College, and Dr Md Monowarul Haque Shamim, President, CMCTA, were present there. Ahmadul Islam Chowdhury, prominent columnist and Islamic researcher, and Advocate Saimon were present on behalf of Salma Adil Foundation.
Also read: One-stop digital COVID-19 test booth launched in Dhaka
CMCTA lauded SAF for setting up a separate Covid-19 testing booth for the frontline doctors. Though the sample collecting booth is installed mainly for the frontline doctors, but a limited number of general people can also avail of the services.
Commenting on the initiative, Salma Adil, Founding Director of SAF, said, “As a Chittagonian, I always try to stand by the people of Chattogram when they need it most. This is a small effort to make it easier to provide Covid-19 testing facilities to those frontline doctors, who are risking their own lives to serve our people during this pandemic situation. So, I felt it’s my duty to stand by the local Doctors.”
Also read: COVID-19: Sample collection booth launched in Jatiya Press Club
Since Covid-19 pandemic first hit Bangladesh, SAF has been providing support to the general people. Last year, SAF handed over food and grocery items to the doorstep of thousands of needy people all over the country free-of-cost. In terms of financial assistance, the foundation also extended support to the jobless people through mobile banking, who were heavily affected by the lockdown.
To combat the pandemic, SAF took the responsibility of sending consignments of lifesaving protective gears to the frontliners such as doctors, law enforcers, and journalists. Moreover, a pool of dedicated volunteers from SAF took care of the burial of the Covid-19 patients along with providing free tests to countless people with Corona symptoms in Dhaka and Chattogram.
Read Bashundhara's 'vanished' 2000-bed hospital was 'too costly' to keep running.
Holy Ramadan begins tomorrow
Muslims in Bangladesh will start observing the holy month of Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, from tomorrow, Wednesday.
The moon was sighted on Tuesday.
Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessing and benediction, will be observed on the night of May 9.
The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office.
Also read: 'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity.
This year, maximum 20 people, including two imams, can attend Tarabi prayers in mosques.
The step was taken to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
Besides, no public gathering for iftar will be allowed.
Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan
On April 6, the Religious Affairs Ministry asked people to offer Zohr prayers at home instead of Jum’a on Friday considering the current situation of coronavirus.
This year, devotees have been directed not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.
The Religious Affairs Ministry on April 5 issued new directives in this connection.
The government has rearranged the office timing for Ramadan from 9am to 3:30pm for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions.
Also read: Soaring veggie prices sour festive spirit for city residents
Meanwhile, residents of as many as 13 villages in Faridpur began the fasting month on Tuesday, in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
The residents of the villages under Shekhar and Rupapat unions in Boalmari upazilas began their dawn-to-sunset fast after having ‘Sehri’ in the early hours, said Mohammad Israfil Molla, chairman of Shekhar Union.
BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
BNP on Friday proposed the formation of an 'all-party committee' to involve people for containing the second wave of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
"We think there’s still time to form an all-party committee to get rid of the coronavirus problem. One thing we want to emphasise that it's not possible to overcome a huge challenge like Covid without the involvement of people,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said it is necessary to involve the people of all walks of life, political parties, different organisations and individuals to tackle a pandemic like coronavirus.
The BNP leader said effective campaigns should be launched to make people aware of the situation and the deadly virus. “People need to be given an idea of the severity of the disease to get their cooperation in the fight against it. Let's save people and the country with united efforts based on a national consensus.”
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 7000+ cases for fifth day
He said a strategy should be worked out to protect people's both lives and livelihoods. “We call upon the government to provide adequate incentives to entrepreneurs of the informal sector.”
Besides, Fakhrul said, those who are working in the informal sector, including the employees of shops and small factories, should be given allowances as long as the problem persists, especially when there is a lockdown.
He also urged the government to carry out relief activities to mitigate the sufferings of the destitute and day-labourers.
The BNP leader demanded the government take effective steps to ensure vaccine for the majority population of the country and thus attain herd immunity to eliminate the Coronavirus.
Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
"We’ve learned from experts that if Bangladesh wants to attain hard immunity, at least 125 million people must be vaccinated and health rules must be followed. But the government still couldn't manage the required number of vaccine doses,” he said.
He appreciated the government’s reported move to import vaccines from China and Russia. “Why didn’t you do this earlier?”
Fakhrul called upon the government to work out a roadmap to collect vaccines for at least 12.5 crore people and properly distribute those in a bid to attain herd immunity.
Besides, he urged the government to take steps for ensuring healthcare facilities, enhancing testing capacities and increasing ICU beds for the coronavirus infected people.
Also read: Lockdown unproductive due to mismanagement: BNP
As the government is planning to enforce a full lockdown from April 14, he said the government should have a strategy to implement it by taking necessary steps to reduce public sufferings during Ramadan.
Fakhrul called upon their party’s all units to stand by the corona infected and poor people affected by the lockdown.
Fakhrul said their party’s around 400 leaders and activists have so far died of coronavirus while over 5,000 were infected with the virus.
Bustle back in Dhaka with reopening of city bus services
Traffic bustle returned to Dhaka with the resumption of city bus services on Wednesday, the third day of the seven-day countrywide lockdown.
In the wake of commuters’ sufferings, the government allowed public transports to resume their operations in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur and Mymensigh city corporation areas from 6am to 6pm every day.
The relaxation has brough some sort of relief for commuters, vendors, traders and retailers who had suffered during the last two days for lack of public transports.
“This is good! It has enabled us to move easily in the city. But maintaining health protocols still remains a problem. People are reluctant,” said Shafiqul Islam, a private firm executive.
But, he said, with the resumption of public transport service, Dhaka got back its usual traffic chaos and sound pollution though the volume of vehicles was relatively low.
Although mass transports were relatively thin on the streets, traffic jams were seen in areas like Moghbazar, Banani and Gulistan areas.
Leaving before Lockdown
A large number of homebound people were seen gathering at railway station and bus terminals as the government announced 7-day countrywide lockdown from Monday.
Commuters fearing suspension of public transport crowding at the bus and launch terminals amid the risk of Coronavirus transmission.
Excessive pressure transports was seen on the highway causing long tailbacks.
Motivate people to follow govt’s covid guidelines: IGP to police
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on Sunday told police to motivate the people to follow the government’s directives to tackle the transmission of coronavirus.
He gave the directive to all metropolitan police, range and district police superintendents through a video conference from the Police Headquarters.
A surge in infection prompted the Prime Minister Office (PMO) to issue an 18-point directive on March 29. The Cabinet Division gave an 11-point guideline on April 4.
Also read: Bangladesh set to enforce nationwide lockdown Monday amid Covid surge
Benazir emphasised motivating the people and not using force to implement the directives when the country enters a seven-day lockdown from Monday.
The IGP said that like last year, the kitchen markets have to be set up in open space. Following health guidelines must be ensured there.
About the quarantine of returnees, he said that if anyone comes from abroad, they have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Also read: Govt issues gazette restricting people’s movement, other activities for 7 days
Emergency services, factories and garments industries will remain open, he said, adding that public transport will be closed. The movement of vehicles carrying goods should be kept normal.
He instructed police officers and the force to perform their duties following proper health guidelines. The IGP directed to strictly implement the 'No Mask No Entry' policy at all police installations.
He also instructed the police officers to regularly disinfect all police installations.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
The IGP said that after coronavirus cases were first detected in the country in March last year, police stood by the people as a humanitarian force to tackle the crisis.
He hoped that everyone would work together to curb the spread of coronavirus by implementing the government's orders to deal with the second wave.