UNB, Feni
Three suspected robbers were killed in a reported gunfight with police while they were trying to flee after killing a security guard at Beker Bazar in Dagonbhuiya upazila early Thursday.
The identities of the deceased could not be known yet. The security guard was identified as Abdul Mannan alias Manu, 50, son of Nur Nabi of Asrafpur village in the upazila.
Quoting local people, Aslam Shikdar, officer-in-charge of Dagonbhuiya Police Station, said a gang of robbers swooped on Beker Bazar for committing robbery in the dead of night. When the robbers were loading looted valuables on a truck, the security guard obstructed them. Being resisted, the robbers tied his neck with a towel and strangled him to death.
On information, police conducted a drive to arrest the robbers.
Over 30 lakh families get govt relief in Khulna division
BSS, Khulna
More than 30.49 lakh jobless and distressed families in the division have received massive relief assistance from the government to tackle the situation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Officials said the district administrations already distributed 21,714 tonnes of rice among 17.83 lakh jobless families and Taka 11.09 crore among 13.66 lakh distressed families in the division.
Talking to BSS, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Hossain Ali Khondokar said the government has so far allocated 29,857 tonnes of rice and Taka 14.23 crore as general relief for the jobless and needy people of the division.
“After distribution of 21,714 tonnes of rice and Taka 11.09 crore among over 30.49 lakh people, the district administrations have 8,128 tonnes of rice and Taka 3.14 crore in reserve now in the division,” he said.
5 more detected as Corona positive in C’nawabganj
BSS, Chapainawabganj
Five more persons tested positive for COVID 19 last night, raising the total number in the district to 94.
Of the five newly detected patients, two are from Shibganj upazila, one from Gomostapur upazila and another two from Nachole upazila.
Civil Surgeon of Chapainawabganj Jahid Nazrul Chowdhury said his office received the report of four samples from Rajshahi. Of them, two were detected as COVID 19 positive.
Later, another report of 134 samples from Dhaka came showing three persons Corona positive.
Meanwhile, 54 patients have recovered from the diseases in the district, he added.
BSS, Rangpur
The number of coronavirus (Covid-19) patients reached 2,441 as 47 new positive cases were reported during the last 24 hours till 8 am yesterday in Rangpur division.
Officials said the district-wise breakup of the patients now stands at 828 in Rangpur, 130 in Panchagarh, 319 in Nilphamari, 84 in Lalmonirhat, 125 in Kurigram, 191 in Thakurgaon, 536 in Dinajpur and 228 Gaibandha districts.
Talking to BSS, Focal Person of Covid-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui said the number of recovered Covid-19 patients also marks a rising trend despite a limited scale community transmission of the virus at places.
“The total number of recovered Covid-19 patients rose to 1,286 now with the recovery of 52 more patients in Rangpur division on Wednesday,” he said.
“The recovery rate among the total 2,441 coronavirus infected patients now stands at 52.86 percent in the division,” he said.
The 1,286 recovered Covid-19 patients include 465 of Rangpur, 81 of Panchagarh, 193 of Nilphamari, 49 of Lalmonirhat, 70 of Kurigram, 101 of Thakurgaon, 273 of Dinajpur and 54 of Gaibandha districts.
Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said a total of 25,024 collected samples from across Rangpur division were tested so far, and of them, found 2,441 as coronavirus positive with the percentage of 9.75 in the division.
With three more deaths reported on Wednesday, the total number of fatalities rose to 43 including 13 in Rangpur, 10 in Dinajpur, eight in Gaibandha, six in Nilphamari, three in Panchagarh, two in Thakurgaon and one in Lalmonirhat districts of the division.
Among the total 2,441 Covid-19 patients, 134 are undergoing treatments at isolation units of different hospitals after recovery of 1,286 patients and 43 deaths while 978 remaining in isolation at homes in the division.
“Since the beginning, we have put a total of 47,160 people in quarantines, and of them, 41,368 released and 5,802 are currently remaining in home or institutional quarantines in Rangpur division,” he said.
During the last 24 hours, 366 people were put in quarantine at home or institutions and 408 others released in all eight districts in the division.
“After getting a total of 1,71,316 pieces of personal protective equipment so far, we have already distributed 98,406 pieces of the same among the health service providers with a stock of 72,910 pieces in the division,” Dr. Khan added.
Govt. distributes 30,654 tonnes of rice, Tk 14.03cr in Rajshahi division
BSS, Rajshahi
As part of its nonstop humanitarian support to tackle the present crisis triggered by COVID-19 pandemic, the government has, so far, distributed 30,654 tonnes of rice and around Taka 14.03 crore in cash among the families in need in Rajshahi division. Around 43.95 lakh jobless and hardest hit families consisting 1.98 crore people have received the government’s humanitarian aid till Wednesday to mitigate their livelihood related troubled situation in all eight districts of the division since the pandemic began.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said 18,13,660 families were given 10 kilograms of rice each while another 9,18,070 families got Taka 1,000 each for baby food purposes and necessary other expenses.
A total of 2,892 tonnes of rice and over TK 1.75 crore in cash are in the stock at present for distribution in line with the government’s efforts to reach foodstuffs among all hardest hit people, he added.
Besides, around 16.63 lakh distressed and other less-incoming families consisting around 74.83 lakh people have, so far, received Open Market Sale (OMS) rice in the division to overcome their crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Department of Food has distributed 8,314.30 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kilogram under the government’s OMS programme through 116 appointed dealers in all eight districts in the division till Tuesday last.
Regional Controller of Food Raihanul Kabir said the OMS programme is being conducted in city, district headquarter, pourashava and union levels since April 5 last to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Around 13,322.93 tonnes of flour have also been distributed at TK 18 per kilogram among the families in need through 48 dealers under the OMS programme in the division till Wednesday.
Another 1,38,858.02 tonnes of rice have, so far, been distributed among 7,73,026 enlisted poor and extreme poor households under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme”.
Apart from this, 4,500 tonnes of rice are also being distributed among the needy families under the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme. Each of 1.5 lakh beneficiary families is getting 30 kilograms of rice every month free of cost.
With its own initiative, Rajshahi City Corporation has, so far, distributed various types of foodstuffs including 325.33 tonnes of rice, 58.68 tonnes of pulse, 58.45 tonnes of potato, 15.08 tonnes of flour, 17 tonnes of fine and aromatic rice, 11.2 tonnes of sugar, 11,250 packets of vermicelli, 39 tonnes of pumpkin and 4.52 tonnes of spinach to tackle the pandemic situation.
It has also distributed 1,394.85 tonnes of rice, Taka 48.12 lakh in cash and 145 cartons of baby food among the families in need as part of the government humanitarian assistance to cope with the present troubled situation, said city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
