BANGLADESH govt warns of punitive action for defying COVID -19 protocols

SHEIKH Hasina govt has asked the concerned authorities to strictly enforce health regulations including wearing of masks by the people to contain the spread of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic in  Bangladesh. The government has asked the local administration to conduct mobile court operations so that punitive fines could be imposed on people for not wearing masks in public. It has also instructed the government departments to gear up awareness campaigns on the need to wear masks to protect against the virus. Briefing media after the cabinet meeting in Dhaka on Monday, August 10 Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said that the field administrators have been asked to visit the spots and make people aware of the need to wear a mask. Mobile courts will enforce the rule on mask-wearing. Once people know that some people have been punished by the mobile courts for not wearing masks in markets, buses and other public places, they will become aware of it. As per the latest figures published in The Independent Bangladesh’s officially confirmed coronavirus cases went up to 2,60,507 with the detection of 2,907 new patients in 24 hours until Monday. The country’s death tally rose to 3,438 as 39 patients died during this period, the health authorities announced. Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18. At a regular briefing, an official of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said that 2,067 patients have newly recovered. So far, 1,50,437 patients have recovered from coronavirus. The official said the new cases positive cases were found after conducting 12,849 tests. Bangladesh has been recording a high number of cases in recent weeks and many people fear that the number will increase if more tests are conducted. The government has requested the people to properly follow the health guidelines. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Betar has announced to launch ‘Ghore bose shikhi’ for primary school students from August 12 so that students could continue academic activities amid the coronavirus pandemic. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Ministry Md Zakir Hossain will inaugurate broadcasting of lessons by Bangladesh Betar and 16 community radios. The programme will be aired at 4:05 pm from Sunday to Thursday every week, said an official press release. All the educational institutes of the country remained shut since March 17 due to the Covid-19 outbreak