Coronavirus lockdown
Quader urges party members to help people during lockdown
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has asked members of his party and allied bodies to stand by the helpless people during the strict lockdown due to be imposed on Thursday.
Quader was speaking virtually at a function marking distributing Covid health and safety products to 30 boarder districts and upazilas.
The distribution was organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi this morning.
Saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has successfully tackled the first wave of corona by balancing between life and livelihood, Quader called for everyone’s cooperate in implementing her practical and timely initiative to manage the ongoing second wave.
Also read: Violation of lockdown rules to invite legal action, warns DMP
Coroner infections are now at high risk, the Awami League general secretary said, adding that high-level infections have spread from border districts to the capital, spreading to rural areas.
Quader said that it is necessary to take utmost measures for the safety of all.
He said there is no alternative to fully mask up to ward off the infections. The slightest negligence towards hygiene can cause death.
Mentioning that the Sheikh Hasina government has decided to impose strict restrictions from July 1 as per the advice of experts for the protection of the people, Quader called urged all to stay home for their own good.
Also read: Govt outlines restriction rules ahead of ‘tough’ lockdown
The Awami League leader said the prime minister always takes right decision in times of crisis and disaster.
Quader also called upon all to have confidence in the steps being taken by the prime minister to deal with the situation.
He said opposition BNP is merely spreading confusion among the people about government’s mass vaccination programme.
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, the party’s presidium member, presided over the function. Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Health Secretary Dr Rokeya and Human Resources Secretary Samsunnahar Champa, Central Executive Member Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and Relief Sub-Committee Member Dr. Hedayetul Islam Badal were also present.
Lockdown: DRU urges law enforcers to cooperate with media people
Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Wednesday urged the law enforcement agencies and other authorities concerned to cooperate with the media people in discharging their professional duties during the strict lockdown set to be enforced from Thursday.
In a statement, DRU president Mursalin Nomani and general secretary Mosiur Rahman Khan also urged the media workers to carry their press cards while performing their duties.
They said the government is going to impose tough restrictions across the country from July 1 to prevent the upsurge of coronavirus infections.
The DRU leaders said the government in its notification issued on Wednesday listed mass media as ‘emergency services’ during the restrictions.
Also read: Violation of lockdown rules to invite legal action, warns DMP
“However, in the context of past experience, it can be seen that media workers in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, have been subjected to various forms of harassment while performing their professional duties (during such restrictions,” the statement said.
Under the circumstances, the DRU leaders called upon the law enforcement agencies and the authorities concerned to cooperate and play a responsible role so that the journalists and employees of newspapers, television and news portals are not subjected to any kind of harassment.
They also requested the media workers help the members of the law enforcement agencies carry out their professional duties.
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told reporters that the journalists have been asked to cover their assignments after hanging their ID cards and they can move in the city to perform their duties during the seven-day tough lockdown.
Also read: Govt outlines restriction rules ahead of ‘tough’ lockdown
“Police won’t obstruct them. They can also use vehicles provided by their respective offices,” he added.
The government is all set to enforce a weeklong countrywide strict lowdown from Thursday in a bid to control the growing Covid infections.
All public movement, except emergency services, will be restricted during the lockdown by deploying the members and army and other law enforcement agencies.
Lockdown-induced price hike making life in Khulna miserable
The soaring prices of essentials in anticipation of the strict lockdown in Khulna has increased the sufferings of the low- and middle-income people.
They have been struggling to make ends meet and surviving seems to be the hardest challenge for them now.
The prices of edible oil, vegetables and other essentials were on the rise due to the multiple syndicates in the market, claimed many consumers.
Also read: Khulna Division sees highest daily death toll of 32 in single day
The lack of price monitoring reinforced the syndicates and unscrupulous practices of the traders.
For over a month, bottled edible Soybean oil (5 litres) was being sold for Tk 680-700. Non-bottled edible oil was Tk 140 per litre.
This week as well, the prices of onions, green chili, potato, papaya, brinjal, cucumber, pumpkin increased by Tk 10-20 per kilogram.
Also read: Covid claims 112 more lives in Bangladesh; positivity rate hits 23.97%
Saiful Islam, a trader in Sandha Bazar in Sher-e-Bangla Road, said the prices of all vegetables and essentials were going up. The strict lockdown in the district leaves no room for the prices of essentials to decline.
Meanwhile, in different retail markets of the town, lentils were selling at Tk 75-120 against last week’s prices of Tk 70-110.
Amid the soaring prices, consumers sought the intervention of the higher authorities for price monitoring.
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.
Nationwide lockdown from Monday, 'all out lockdown’ from July 1
The government will enforce an all out lockdown from July 1 as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities with the highly infectious Delta variant playing havoc.
Meanwhile, the country will go into the earlier announced strict lockdown ‘on a limited scale’ from Monday.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair on Saturday evening.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain confirmed the development to UNB.
“Nationwide lockdown will begin on Monday. However, for zonal closing of bills of the banking sector and various government offices at the end of the month, the maximum restrictions will kick in from July 1," he said.
Details on the lockdown will be known after the government issues a notification on Sunday, the minister added.
However, public transport will be suspended from Monday according to sources attending the meeting.
Alsor read: COVID-19: Daily caseload drops on back of reduced tests, as positivity keeps rising
Export-oriented factories are likely to be exempted from the restrictions, they said.
Earlier on Saturday, sources within Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) confirmed the news to UNB citing a circular issued by the organisation.
Export oriented factories to remain open amid ‘strict lockdown’
Readymade garment and all other export-oriented factories will remain open during the nationwide ‘strict lockdown’ which is set to begin on Monday.
Sources Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) confirmed the news to UNB citing a circular issued by the organisation.
“Export-oriented factories will not remain under the purview of the lockdown. However, strict health protocols should be maintained in keeping the factories open.” the circular read.
Also read: Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister
Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association sent an application to the Cabinet Secretary Khondokar Anwarul Islam requesting permission to keep the factories operational on a limited scale during the lockdown.
The leaders of the organisation also said that they have received a positive response from the government.
Earlier on Friday, Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker said that the government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday.
Also read: Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days unless extended.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain closed during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister
The army may be deployed to enforce the upcoming nationwide "strict lockdown" from Monday, hinted the State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain.
"Police and the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will ensure strict enforcement of the lockdown and the army may also be deployed," he told UNB.
Read: Coronavirus: 2,500 Army members aiding local administration
"Initially the lockdown will be imposed for seven days, which may be extended further depending on the Covid-19 situation," the minister added.
Earlier on Monday, Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker disclosed that the government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" from Monday.
Read: Coronavirus: Army warns of tough action from Thursday
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days, he added.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain shut during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
However, the restrictions will not apply to the media, ambulances, and vehicles used for medical purposes.
The Cabinet Division will come up with details regarding the "strict lockdown" on Saturday, Surath said.
Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
The government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday, as the country grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities with the highly infectious Delta variant playing havoc.
The restrictions will remain in place for seven days, said Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker.
Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain shut during this period.
All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.
Also read: From bad to worse: Bangladesh reports 108 new Covid deaths, 5,869 cases
However, the restrictions will not apply to the media, ambulances, and vehicles used for medical purposes.
The Cabinet Division will come up with details regarding the "strict lockdown" on Saturday, Surath said.
The repeated lockdowns have become a threat to the livelihoods of many in Bangladesh while disrupting travel and social lives.
However, experts hope that stricter rules will bring positivity rates and fatalities down as the country is battling to get a second coronavirus wave under control.
Also read: Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a "nationwide shutdown" for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind the current Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee.
It used the example of India to emphasise that no step other than a "complete shutdown" might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
Bangladesh has seen a spike in coronavirus infections and fatalities in recent weeks, with the country reporting its second-highest fatalities – 108 new deaths – and 5,869 cases Friday. It has now seen 878,804 cases and 13,976 deaths.
Bangladesh may see dreadful Covid peak ahead of Eid, experts warn
Amid the rise in Covid cases triggered by local transmission of the Delta variant, experts predict that Bangladesh may see the peak of the current wave of the deadly virus in the third week of July next.
Using a mathematical model, Bangladesh Como Modelling Group, a panel of local and international health experts, also said the number of daily cases is likely to cross 10,000-mark in mid-July, putting a serious pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
They, however, said the severity of the virus infection and fatality rates during the probable peak on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha will depend on the effectiveness of preventive measures, management of cattle markets and control on public movement.
The experts appreciated the government’s move to isolate Dhaka from other parts of the country by suspending road, rail and waterway communications, saying that it may help slow down the virus transmission.
Prevailing situation
Bangladesh reported 20.27% positivity rate and 1.59% fatality rate on Wednesday, the highest since April 21.
DGHS spokesperson Dr Robed Amin said the Covid-19 situation has worsened in the country as the virus has been spreading fast in bordering and other areas of the country. “The number of cases and deaths are gradually rising."
He said they fear that a terrible situation lies ahead if people do not strictly maintain the health safety rules.
Robed said the virus transmission has been showing a gradual upward trend from June 16 and the death rate is now very high.
He said over 70,000 people were diagnosed with Covid this month due to the outbreak of the virus in the frontier areas.
Also read: Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
Robed said the Corona situation has deteriorated in Barishal, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions over the last one week.
He said the virus infection has declined in Rajshahi while Sylhet is in a somewhat stable condition. “Khulna division witnessed the highest number of Covid deaths over the last one week.”
The DGHs spokesman said there are many empty beds and ICUs in government and private hospitals in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, but the picture of hospitals in border areas is different as most of them are overwhelmed.
Advisory committee suggests complete shutdown in Bangladesh for minimum 14 days
The National Technical Advisory Committee on the Covid-19 pandemic recommended that a complete nationwide ‘shutdown’ be enforced for at least two weeks to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.
Community transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus might be the reason behind deterioration in the Covid-19 situation in the country, said the committee in a media release.
The committee used the example of India as areference to emphasize that no step other than a complete shutdown might be enough to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.
Also read: Rapid rise in Bangladesh’s Covid cases, 81 more die
“Everything, including offices, courts and businesses, need to be closed for at least 14 days. Otherwise, no other steps taken by the government will be enough to contain the virus,” the committee said.The committee also recommended that at least 80 % of the population should be brought under the vaccination drive, aiming to bring back normal life.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded 6,058 newinfections and 81 deaths in the last 24 hours until Thursday morning.
Also read: Countries like Bangladesh need support for vaccine production: FM
This is the highest number of single-day positive cases in 73 days since April 12.
However, the positivity rate fell slightly to19.93 % on Thursday and the death rate remained static at 1.59 %.