Garment factories should be reopened gradually after ensuring health and safety of workers because a long-term shutdown will hurt the economy, said an economist yesterday.

As the government is having to allocate additional funds for certain sectors to combat the coronavirus outbreak, it has suspended financing for all “low priority” projects in the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for this fiscal year, officials said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown a grave challenge to the policymakers.

A total of 218 policemen tested Covid-19 positive as of yesterday while 652 others of the force are in quarantine, says the Police Headquarters (PHQ).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for forging a collective global partnership and greater unity to fight the coronavirus pandemic as she placed a five-point proposal that includes devising meaningful strategies.

The government yesterday extended the ongoing shutdown of most of the public and private offices till May 5 in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

With the number of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh jumping by around 300-400 per day and the ongoing nationwide shutdown extended to May 5, it is clear that we still have a long way to go in dealing with this crisis. Academics have warned that this prolonged shutdown will lead to a significant increase in session jams at public universities.

It is worrying that the number of Covid-19 cases has been increasing alarmingly in Dhaka, with over 85 percent of all confirmed cases recorded in the division.

A total of 177 more British nationals, who were stranded in Bangladesh due to the suspension of flights following coronavirus outbreak, leave Dhaka on a special British Airways flight.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain extends the ongoing closure for all the courts across the country till May 5 in line with the government decision for extension of closures of offices due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Only twelve people, including two hafez, will be able to attend the Tarabi and Esha prayers in each mosque during the month of Ramadan, the religious affairs ministry says in a directive.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines seeks Tk 1,500 crore as loan from Sonali Bank to meet its essential costs including paying salaries to its several thousand employees, amid the coronavirus pandemic that has grounded airlines all across the globe.

The World Health Organization says that Europe’s care homes were the scene of an “unimaginable human tragedy”, with deaths there accounting for 50 percent or more in some countries.

A slum in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area has been locked down after one of its residents tested Covid-19 positive.

Following requests from various countries, Bangladesh has decided to bring back migrant workers but after holding a few multi and bilateral dialogues, Expatriate’s Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed says.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry suspends seven Union Parishad (UP) chairmen and three members for irregularities in distribution of relief among poor, during the ongoing shutdown.

A recent survey finds that 49 percent of low-wager earners in the coastal districts have no clear idea on the primary protective measures, including basic rules of hand washing, required for preventing Covid-19.

When a 38-year-old school from Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila started showing symptoms of coronavirus back in April 5, she immediately locked herself up in her room, fearing she was indeed infected.

A total of 218 members of police were tested positive for Covid-19 across the country while discharging their duties, according to a tally of Police Headquarters.

India has succeeded in minimising coronavirus transmission in 30 days of the lockdown so far, the country’s health ministry says.