Covid-19 lockdown
Lockdown Breaches: 481 arrested in Dhaka on 9th day
Police arrested 481 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 9th day of the 14-day countrywide strict lockdown on Saturday
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 2,06,710 as fines from 202 people.
Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 10,45,000 as penalties from 440 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Although public transport movement remained suspended, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka, following the government’s announcement that mills and factories will reopen on Sunday (Aug 1).
Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
Those who had left the capital for Eid-ul-Azha and did not return due to the closure of factories were seen entering the city on foot amid the lockdown.
Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
As health authorities scramble to prevent the spread of the Delta variant, Bangladesh added 218 fatalities to its national tally on Saturday.
The country registered over 200 single-day fatalities for the last six days as it is fighting a horrific wave of the pandemic that overwhelmed its healthcare systems.
The country recorded 9,369 new cases on Saturday after testing 30,980 samples, and reported the highest daily Covid-19 fatality number – 258 – on July 27 and 16,230 infections the next day, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
There have been 1,249,484 positive cases and 20,685 coronavirus-related deaths here since the pandemic began, the DGHS said.
Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate took a negligible fall to 30.24% from Friday’s 30.77 %, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate.
However, the recovery rate rose to 86.29% from the previous day’s 85.81 % and the case fatality rate to 1.66% from last day’s 1.65 %.
Read: No decision yet on lockdown extension: Farhad
As many as 14,017 patients recovered from the fatal disease in the 24-hour period.
Among the latest deaths, the highest 67 deaths were recorded in Dhaka division followed by 55 in Chattogram, 27 in Khulna, 22 in Rajshahi, 16 in Rangpur, 12 in Mymensingh, 10 in Barishal, and nine in Sylhet divisions.
Of them, 134 were men and 84 women. Among them, one was between 0-10 years of age, six between 21-30, 17 between 31-40, 37 between 41-50, 37 between 51-60, 66 between 61-70, 33 between 71-80, 15 between 81-90, four between 91-100 and two over 100 years old.
Astrazeneca’s fresh rollout
On a positive note, Bangladesh will resume vaccination with Astrazeneca shots within the next few days, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque.
“We’ll resume vaccination with Astrazeneca jabs within the next 2-1 days. Those who failed to take the second dose after getting the first one will be able to get it now,” he said.
He said the government has an overall stock of 2 crore 60 lakh vaccine doses now.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday received the second consignment of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan under the COVAX facility.
Read: Vaccination with Astrazeneca jabs in Bangladesh to resume within days
The second consignment contains 7,81,320 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
A cargo flight of Cathay Pacific that carried the vaccine doses from Japan landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:15 pm.
The third consignment that will contain 6,16,780 doses of the vaccine is scheduled to arrive here on August 3.
Chandpur: 50 in jail for the love of football
‘Football, bloody hell!'
Fans often remember these famous words of the legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson, everytime the beautiful game presents some magical set of events that words cannot do justice.
Read: Brazil, Argentina fans fight in B'baria, 4 injured
They might have the exact same reaction when they hear that some youths in Bangladesh have been arrested for arranging an amateur football tournament amid the country's stringent Covid-19 lockdown, as if oblivious to the fatal disease being at its peak in the country, shattering records every other day.
As many as 50 were arrested from Chandpur on Friday for violating lockdown restrictions and arranging/attending the football tournament.
Read:Breaching Lockdown: Arrests decline at last on weekly holiday
The Akkas Ali High School field, near Chandpur Railway Station, was the venue chosen for the tournament, and it was there that the arrests were made.
Chandpur Police Super Molin Mahmud confirmed the arrests to UNB.
“We made the arrests after receiving information that more than a hundred people had gathered at the field on the pretext of a football tournament,” Molin said.
He warned of stricter action if people were found wandering around the streets or arranging mass gatherings during the lockdown.
Breaching Lockdown: Arrests decline at last on weekly holiday
Police arrested 381 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 8th day of the 14-day (unless extended) countrywide lockdown on Friday.
It was the first time in a week that the number dropped below 500, as movement of vehicles and people was comparatively less, presumably for being a holiday.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 6,7940 as fines from 108 people.
During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 817000 as penalties from 321 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Read: Bangladesh records 212 more Covid deaths setting off alarm bells
Although people movements were less inside Dhaka, the scenario was different at the entry points as the UNB correspondents observed huge groups of people entering the capital, maintaining the trend of the last few days.
As the law enforcement agencies are arresting and collecting fimes from people for violating restrictions on one hand, the government has decided to reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August on the other.
The cabinet division has issued a notification in this regard stating that all export-oriented factories will remain out of the purview of the ongoing lockdown restrictions which is expected to continue till Aug 5, unless extended further.
The decision came today after the business leaders on Thursday requested the government to reopen garment factories and other industries amid the lockdown.
The government reinforced 14-day strict lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation till August 5.
Read: Covid surge in Bangladesh: Primary schools to remain shut until Aug 31
Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid, mills and factories were instructed to remain closed during this time.
There are speculations that the government might extend the lockdown as the Covid infections are at its peak shattering records of highest single day transmissions and deaths every other day.
Bangladesh receives 30 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Bangladesh received 30 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on Thursday night and early Friday as part of commercial purchase from China.
One of the three aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:20pm on Thursday.
Read: Bangladesh receives 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Two more aircraft landed at 1:14am and 5.37am on Friday, each carrying 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine, Tahera Khondoker, Deputy General Manager (PR) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told UNB.
Earlier, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on July 17 and July 18.
Lockdown Breaches: 568 arrested in Dhaka on 7th day
Police arrested 568 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 7th day of the 14-day countrywide lockdown on Wednesday.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 3,40,100 as fines from 206 people.
During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 9,97,500 as penalties from 431 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
However, any amount of fines or deaths recorded due to Covid-19 is apparently not enough to keep people at their home as traffic on the streets of capital Dhaka is increasing with every passing day amid the lockdown.
The number of vehicles and people increased substantially on Dhaka streets on Thursday.
Many people were seen coming out and wandering without any valid reason while health protocols are hardly maintained in most cases.
However, the movement of private vehicles has increased as many private offices have arranged vehicles for the movement of their own staff. But public transport stayed off the roads as per the directives of the government.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily toll remains above 200; 15,271 more infected
People were seen reaching their destinations by rickshaws as it is available during the lockdown.
Traffic inspector Asaduzzaman, said, “The number of vehicles is increasing day by day. We’re checking every vehicle. Those who failed to justify their outdoor movement are fined and cases lodged for violating lockdown rules.”
Owners urge government to reopen factories amid lockdown
Business leaders on Thursday requested the government to reopen garment factories and other industries amid the countrywide stringent lockdown.
BGMEA President Farooq Hasan disclosed the information to the reporters after a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam at the Secretariat.
Read: Farhad warns legal action if factories found open amid lockdown
"We have requested the government to reopen industries. The cabinet secretary will take a quick decision after talking to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
He hoped that the government will consider their request.
Read: Export oriented factories to remain open amid 'strict lockdown'
The government reinforced 14-day strict lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation till August 5.
Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid, mills and factories were instructed to remain closed during this time.
There are speculations that the government might extend the lockdown as the Covid infections are at its peak shattering records of highest single day transmissions and deaths every other day.
Nine Rohingya refugees detained in Kurigram
A mobile court in Kurigram detained nine Rohingya refugees on Wednesday night for flouting the Covid-19 lockdown norms.
The refugees have been identified as Faia Salam, 27, Ismail Hossain, 18, Sabika Khatun, 50, Nasim, 15, Riaz, 10, Asmira Khatun, 18, Tasminara Khatun, 7, Rumajan Khatun, 5, and Ismail Hossain, 3.
Read: Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR
All of them are the residents of different Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, police said.
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bhurungamari Police Station, said during regular patrolling, the mobile court of the local administration intercepted a battery-run three-wheeler carrying 12 people amid the ongoing countrywide lockdown.
While two occupants of the vehicle managed to escape in the dark, the nine others were detained. The remaining person, a Bangladeshi national, was the driver of the vehicle. He was let off with a warning.
Read: Govt to vaccinate Rohingyas gradually starting with above-55s: Foreign Secretary The nine were subsequently handed over to the police after they revealed their identities and claimed that they had plans to sneak into neighbouring India.
"We have initiated the process to send them back to their respective Rohingya camps," the OC said.
Lockdown Breaches: 562 arrested as movement of vehicles, people increase on 6th day
Police arrested 562 people for being out there on the streets violating restrictions even as the capital city saw an increased number of private cars and public movement on the 6th day of the 14-day lockdown on Wednesday.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,61,130 as fines from 208 people.
During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,13,0000 as penalties from 489 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Despite the measures taken by the authorities, people continue to venture out with families and friends in the capital defying the lockdown rules even though the Covid outbreak has turned vicious in the country.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
There was nothing different on Wednesday as people were seen roaming without emergency reasons with private cars and rickshaws plying everywhere.
Dhaka wore almost a normal look with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Only the movement of public transport remained suspended as per the government restrictions.
Bank transaction time extended by 1 hour during lockdown
Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday extended the bank transaction time by an hour from August 2 to 5.
However, banks will remain closed on August 1 and 4, said a circular of the central bank issued on Wednesday, adding the measures were taken considering the current Covid-19 situation.
It said all banks will operate on a limited scale from 10am to 2:30 pm instead of 1.30pm on August 2, 3 and 5 maintaining all Covid-safety protocols and with limited staff.
Read: Banks to open from Sunday for limited hours
However, banks can remain open till 4pm to conduct their own activities, post-customer hours on the days.
Their other regular activities can also continue in compliance with government guidelines.
After a four-day break due to Eid-ul-Azha and weekly holidays, banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh opened on Sunday amid the countrywide 14-day strict lockdown that was enforced on July 23 to contain the spread of rising Covid.
The other directives of Bangladesh Bank issued on July 13 this year will remain unchanged, said the circular.
Read: Extended lockdown: 10am to 1 pm banking hours to continue
As per that circular, during this period, the head offices and authorised dealers-designated branches of banks will remain open while state-owned banks will keep open one branch at the district level and one at the upazila level.
Private banks, on the other hand, will keep open one branch at the district level and a maximum of two branches outside districts with limited manpower, according to the central bank.
However, internet banking services will continue for 24 hours. All banks will have to ensure the operations of ATM kiosks to facilitate transactions through cards and by supplying adequate cash in the machines, as per the BB circular.