coronavirus
Protect migrant workers, families: RMMRU to govt
To cope with the impact of coronavirus pandemic, the Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit (RMMRU) on Saturday placed a set of recommendations, including formation of a fund for the families of Bangladeshi migrant workers having no earnings.
“It’s commendable that the government announced a fund of Tk 5,000 crore to pay wages of the workers employed in export-oriented industries. So, we’re demanding to form a fund similarly to provide loan without interest and donation in some cases to the families of the Bangladeshi migrants who remain workless abroad,” said RMMRU founding chair Dr Tasneem Siddiqui at an online press conference.
The RMMRU of the Dhaka University (DU), a centre for research and grassroots action, arranged the press conference to place a number of recommendations for the protection of the Bangladeshi migrants during the COVID-19 outbreak.
It also recommended ensuring protection of Bangladeshi migrants in different countries by conducting free COVID-19 tests and providing food assistance through the Bangladesh missions stationed abroad.
In this regard, Dr Siddiqui, also DU political science professor, said several Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia have announced that all immigrants – both regular and irregular — will be given healthcare services free of cost.
But the countries that have yet to come up with free COVID-19 testing and treatment for immigrant workers should be urged to provide such facilities immediately, she added.
“It’ll have to convince the countries that drawing difference between their citizens and immigrants during this crisis will in fact endanger the public health security of the countries,” said the RMMRU founding chair.
Noting that Bangladeshi embassies in foreign lands are making efforts to render services to the migrants with their limited resources, she said the missions informed the government about miseries of the migrants and requested to provide food assistance to them.
“The Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry has taken some measures in this regard. RMMRU is demanding immediate allocation from the government fund to implement these measures,” she said.
In many cases, many migrant workers live in unhygienic conditions in cramped places. It is not possible to maintain safe distance to prevent the infection of this virus, she said adding that the Bangladeshi missions should inform the migrant workers how they can take cautionary measures in this regard.
The other urgent recommendations placed by RMMRU include promoting positive attitude towards migrants, providing food aid to migrants’ families in need, preparation of a database on migrants returned by the Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry, making call to different countries to keep the organisations concerned with remittance process operational so that Bangladeshi migrants can send money to their families, considering the issue of increasing incentive to remittance inflow following the coronavirus crisis, and utilising the experiences of the expatriates, recently returned home from Italy and other countries, regarding preventive measures in case of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The RMMRU also placed a number of long-term recommendations including utilising skills of Bangladeshi migrants who returned home, and opening BSc nursing course in all public and private universities, introducing lab technician courses and other medical related courses in Technical Vocational Education Training Centres and Technical Training Centres as there would be huge demand of the skilled persons in the health sector during the post-coronavirus period.
Perform Shab-e-Barat prayers at home: Islamic Foundation
The Islamic Foundation on Saturday urged the people of Muslim belief to offer prayers from home in Shab-e-Barat, the holy night of fortune and forgiveness to be observed on April 9.
“Pray at home in Shab-e-Barat night for the people’s safety during the crisis time of pandemic,” said a press release from Islamic Foundation.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) directive over coronavirus and Prime Minister’s instructive speech, all are urged to follow the Islamic Foundation’s directive, it said.
Educational institutions were shut, general holidays were announced and the government directed the people to maintain social distancing, said the release.
Meanwhile, Islamic Foundation urged Imams to continue five-time prayers and Jum’a prayers at mosques with limited devotees.
Earlier on Monday, the Islamic Foundation issued some guidelines over various issues, including offering namaz and maintaining people’s safety at mosques, and the funeral of coronavirus patients.
It suggested people to refrain from committing sins and offer following’ Duas” frequently:
“La Ilaha Illa, anta subahanaka inni kuntu minaz jolimin.”
According to Muslim belief, Shab-e-Barat is the night when Allah arranges the affairs of the following year. On this night, Allah writes the destinies of all the creations for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds.
Muslim devotees will offer special prayers, reciting from the Holy Quran, holding milad, zikr and other religious rituals seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind.
At funerals in virus outbreak, mourning is from a distance
No one stands in line to embrace the widow and share memories of her husband of 50 years. No rows of family and friends file toward the flag-draped coffin to pay their last respects. No symphony of sniffles is heard across the room as the minister gives a final prayer.
Fear of losing jobs conquers fear of coronavirus
Thousands of readymade garment (RMG) factory workers started heading back to Dhaka from northern and southern districts on Saturday to save their jobs, ignoring risks to their lives and a potential coronavirus outbreak.
Cheltenham defends decision to proceed with horse race event
Cheltenham Festival organisers have defended their decision to go ahead with the meeting last month after fears were raised that the mass gathering of people for the annual horse racing event helped spread coronavirus more widely around Britain.
State unemployment systems tested by surge of applicants
Americans are seeking unemployment benefits at unprecedented levels due to the coronavirus, but many are finding more frustration than relief.
China honors virus victims with 3 minutes of reflection
With air raid sirens wailing and flags at half-staff, China held a three-minute nationwide moment of reflection on Saturday to honor those who have died in the coronavirus outbreak, especially "martyrs" who fell while fighting what has become a global pandemic.
Govt plans to use launches as coronavirus isolation units
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said all passenger launches have been made ready as isolation centres to fight against the novel coronavirus.
Necessary measures will be taken after talks with the health ministry, he said at a views exchange meeting with launch owners at Dhaka’s Sadarghat.
Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Director General of Department of Shipping Commodore Syed Ariful Islam, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq, Launch Owner Samity Vice-President Shahidul Islam Bhaiya, among others, were present.
Khalid said these isolation centres will play an important role, especially in the coastal areas, where coronavirus treatment is not available.
Adequate security measures will be taken and the launches will be taken to a safe place after discussion at the cabinet, he said.
The state minister said, "We’re supporting the shipping workers until the coronavirus crisis is over."
Later, the state minister distributed 200 packets of food items among the workers at Sadarghat.
Medics at Egypt's main cancer center test positive for virus
At least 17 medics in Egypt's main cancer hospital have been quarantined after testing positive for the coronavirus, officials said Saturday, raising fears the pandemic could prey on health facilities in the Arab world's most populous country.
African elite who once sought treatment abroad are grounded
The coronavirus pandemic could narrow one gaping inequality in Africa, where some heads of state and other elite jet off to Europe or Asia for health care unavailable in their nations. As countries including their own impose dramatic travel restrictions, they might have to take their chances at home.