nationwide lockdown
Appellate Division to operate virtually 3 days weekly from Apr 12
The Appellate Division of Supreme Court (SC) will operate virtually for three days weekly from April 12, to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus.
Directed by the Chief Justice Appellate Division registrar Md Badrul Alam Bhuiya issued a circular on Sunday in this regard.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
The directive will remain in action until further notice.
The Appellate Division will operate on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm on limited scale.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records highest single-day deaths
Appellate Division remained closed from April 5 during the nationwide lockdown.
Only virtual Chamber Bench operated on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am during the lockdown.
Also read: Virtual court a new chapter in law: Anisul
CAAB likely to suspend international flights from Apr 14
The authorities of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Sunday said they are planning to suspend all international flights as the government is going to impose a strict lockdown from April 14 to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Read CAAB to suspend international flights from Apr 14
“However, no final decision has been taken yet. Decision on international flights will be taken after a meeting in the afternoon,” said Air-Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB.
“The operation of flights will depend on the directives of the government and if the lockdown starts from Wednesday then CAAB will take decision on international flights as per the government’s lockdown directives,” he said.
Besides, no restriction will be imposed on the movement of chartered flights, cargo flights and special flights carrying high commissioners of different countries and foreign nationals.
Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader
The flight operations on domestic routes remained suspended since the enforcement of the seven-day lockdown in the country from April 5.
Besides, on April1 , the civil aviation regulator suspended the entry of passengers from all European countries , except the UK, and 12 other countries to Bangladesh from April 3.
As the spread of Coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to issue a notification on Sunday over enforcing a fresh nationwide lockdown from April 14 in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Also read: No domestic flight operations during lockdown: CAAB
Bangladesh, a densely populated country, is facing the wraths of the Covid-19 pandemic as people continued to defy health protocols despite warnings both from the government and experts.
On Saturday, the country registered 77 more deaths in 24 hours until Saturday morning, shattering all of its previous records.
The number of new coronavirus cases dropped slightly to 5,343 said a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read UAE limits flights to Iran from Dubai over virus outbreak
Bangladesh set to go under complete lockdown from Apr 14; notification Sunday
As the spread of Coronavirus has sparked alarm across the country, the government is set to issue a notification on Saturday over enforcing a fresh nationwide lockdown from April 14 in its desperate bid to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
A fresh lockdown is coming with tougher measures as the virus keeps spreading fast in the country, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said while talking to UNB about the lockdown notification.
“The country saw the highest death from Covid-19 today. The situation will get out of hand if we don’t take tougher measures. So, we’ve decided to go for an all-out lockdown from April 14,” he said.
Also read: Bangladesh again breaks daily Covid death record with 77
Replying to a question whether there would be any restriction for April 12 and 13 after the ongoing 7-day lockdown tomorrow (Sunday), the state minister said there would be directives regarding these two days in tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) notification.
Everything except emergency services will be closed this time, said Farhad Hossain adding, “Garment factories, transport movement and all the offices except those of emergency services will remain shut.”
Govt urged to allow export-oriented factories to run during lockdown
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Director Syed Nurul Islam on Saturday urged the government to allow the factories in textiles, garments and accessories sectors to run strictly maintaining health guidelines during the lockdown.
Islam, also a director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said such decision to keep factories operational during lockdown will help the export-oriented sector of the country continue their struggle to sustain amid the Covid-19 situation.
Otherwise, he said, the government’s stimulus package or support will go in vain.
Also read: Bangladesh again breaks daily Covid death record with 77
The Chairman and CEO of Well Group of Industries made the request in a message sent to media on Saturday.
He said if the factories are allowed to operate with strict health guidelines in place, over five million of male and female workers will be able to survive.
The government has decided to put the country under a strict lockdown for a week from April 14 amid a growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Also read: Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
Seventy-seven people died from Covid-19 during 24 hours (till 8am Saturday), according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
This is the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 recorded in a day so far in the country while the number of daily deaths on April 8 was 74.
Worsening Covid crisis: Bangladesh resorting to full lockdown
The government is adopting extreme measures to tackle the growing covid infections as people are still reluctant to adhere to health guidelines, putting themselves and others at risk.
“Everything except emergency services will remain shut from April 14. A complete lockdown is coming from April 14 to 20 April,” State Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain told UNB on Friday.
Covid infections rose sharply this year in Bangladesh after a dip, prompting the government to issue an 18-point directive for people. But that did not work, forcing the government to go for a seven-day lockdown. People moved on as usual and businesses protested against the lockdown, forcing the government to permit operation of businesses and public transport partially.
Also read: Govt considering complete lockdown from April 14: Quader
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 7000+ cases for fifth day
Bangladesh on Friday recorded more than 7,000 coronavirus cases for the fifth time in six days even as the country undergoes a weeklong lockdown to contain the virus’ transmission.
In a 24-hour period until the morning, 7,462 new cases were registered with the infection rate jumping to 23.57 percent.
The number of cases was 6,854 on Thursday. On April 4, the country recorded 7,087 covid cases and 7,075 the next day. On April 6, the number was 7,213, followed by 7,626 the next day.
On Friday, 63 covid-related deaths were confirmed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a day after the country recorded 74 deaths, its highest.
The local fatalities stand at 9,584 while the mortality rate dropped to 1.42 percent.
During this 24-hour period, 3,511 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 568,541.
Also read: Govt considering complete lockdown from April 14: Quader
A sharp rise in both infections and deaths prompted the government to issue an 18-point directive before imposing a weeklong lockdown. But people defied the restrictions and carried on as usual. Shops have been reopened and public transport are being allowed to operate in city corporation areas.
9th Liberation DocFest postponed as covid cases surge
The 9th edition of Liberation DocFest has been postponed because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases around the country.
Organisers of the event, originally scheduled for April 6-10, recently announced the postponement on Facebook.
“Due to Bangladesh Government’s decision to go to nationwide lockdown because of escalation of covid pandemic again, Liberation War Museum, the organiser of Liberation DocFest decided to temporarily postpone the festival,” the post reads.
Also read: ‘Highways of Life’ takes top prize as 8th Liberation DocFest concludes
DocFest is an annual initiative dedicated to the documentary cinema to highlight the struggle for liberation and human rights of people in various parts of the world and its contemporary significance.
A new schedule for the event will be announced soon, the organisers said.
However, the ‘Exposition of Young Film Talent 2021’, a storytelling lab for documentary filmmakers will take place on Wednesday and conclude on April 10, as per its schedule.
Also read: Liberation DocFest: Enthralling tales from home and beyond
“We had to postpone this year’s Liberation DocFest at the very last moment due to the recent surge of COVID-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. This prompted the trustee members to postpone the festival but the storytelling lab will continue online as per its schedule,” Md Shariful Islam Shaon, Festival Programmer at Liberation Docfest Bangladesh, told UNB.
The workshop and pitching session, in association with Dhaka DocLab, will cater to 10 projects from Bangladeshi documentary filmmakers which were selected for this year’s workshop.
Marking the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, the festival is scheduled to introduce a series of new screening sessions and special ceremonies in a hybrid format, due to the ongoing pandemic.
Also read: 8th Liberation Docfest Bangladesh-2020 begins connecting global minds virtually
A total of 1,900 films from 112 countries have been submitted to the organisers this year. Among them, 110 documentaries will be screened at the festival.
This year is also marking the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Liberation War Museum, which will be observed with the screening of 12 documentaries from the last five decades along with a special exhibition of 25 one-minute short films when the festival will take place in the future.
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.
Bangladesh set to enforce nationwide lockdown Monday amid Covid surge
The government is set to impose a nationwide lockdown for a week from Monday morning as part of its tougher move to slow down the rapid spike in both coronavirus infection and mortality rates.
The main objective of the lockdown is to control unnecessary public movements and gatherings with stronger monitoring by the members of law enforcement agencies and thus contain the virus transmission.
It will be the first official lockdown in Bangladesh to tackle the deadly coronavirus. On March 26 last year, the government had declared general holidays along with a transport shutdown instead of enforcing lockdown as the country was witnessing the surge in coronavirus transmission.
As the country has been experiencing record-breaking Covid cases for the past few days, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday announced to impose a weeklong countrywide lockdown.
Most offices and factories will remain open during the period, but the employees will work in shifts maintaining health safety rules and government guidelines.
Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued an 18-point directive on March 29 to prevent the transmission of the virus.
Restrictions on movement/activities
The Cabinet Division on Sunday issued a gazette notification imposing restrictions on the movement of people and other activities for seven days in a bid to improve the situation and enforce the lockdown.
The gazette will remain effective from 6 am on April 5 till 12 am on April 11.
According to the gazette, all modes of public transport (road, river, rail and domestic flights) will remain suspended during the period.
Avoid foods with trans fats and stay healthy: Experts
Experts have advised people to avoid all sorts of foods with trans fats to stay healthy during their confinement to home amid the nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the transmission of coronavirus.
Foods containing excessive trans fats are unhealthy which causes various diseases, especially heart diseases, they said, adding that intake of such foods now will increase the risk as people are now out of physical activities due to the shutdown.