4,422 foreigners leave BD since virus outbreak
Staff Reporter
Some 4,422 foreign nationals left Bangladesh after the coronavirus outbreak began in the country, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Thursday.
These expatriates went back to their respective countries including Bhutan, Malaysia, USA, Japan, Russia, Germany,
Canada, Australia, Maldives, Turkey, UK and Singapore.
The local missions of respective countries arranged chartered flights for the return of their nationals, a foreign office spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, MOFA has facilitated the return of 1,799 Bangladeshis stranded in China, India, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Oman and Turkey. These returnees include pilgrims, students, tourists, patients and businessmen.
Gazette issued over extended closure
Staff Reporter
The government on Thursday issued a gazette notification extending the ongoing closure of all public and private offices till May 5 to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Emergency services related to the supply of power, water, gas and fuel, port activities and telephone, internet and postal operations will remain out of the purview of the shutdown. Movement of doctors, nurses, health workers and media persons are allowed, the notification said.
The shutdown will not be applicable to vehicles carrying perishable items, agricultural products, medicines and hospital staff.
No educational institution will be allowed to open during the period, the notification said.
Factory owners can resume operations, ensuring safety of their workers and staff, it said.
Public transport operation will resume gradually, depending on the situation.
This is for the fourth time the government extended shutdown after it first announced the closure of all public and private offices from March 26 to April 4. The first announcement was made on March 23.
Staff Reporter
The government on Thursday issued a gazette notification extending the ongoing closure of all public and private offices till May 5 to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Emergency services related to the supply of power, water, gas and fuel, port activities and telephone, internet and postal operations will remain out of the purview of the shutdown. Movement of doctors, nurses, health workers and media persons are allowed, the notification said.
The shutdown will not be applicable to vehicles carrying perishable items, agricultural products, medicines and hospital staff.
No educational institution will be allowed to open during the period, the notification said.
Factory owners can resume operations, ensuring safety of their workers and staff, it said.
Public transport operation will resume gradually, depending on the situation.
This is for the fourth time the government extended shutdown after it first announced the closure of all public and private offices from March 26 to April 4. The first announcement was made on March 23.
Afternoon shower sweeps city
Staff Reporter
City dwellers witnessed a brief but heavy rain coupled with thundershowers on Thursday afternoon.
Met office recorded a wind speed of 74 kilometers per hour in the capital in the afternoon, said AKM Nazmul Haque, said an official at the office.
The Met office earlier predicted that rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gust/squally wind is likely to occur over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Cumilla, Noakhali and Sylhet during the next 6-8 hours starting at 3.30pm Thursday. Besides, the rain/thunder shower activity is likely to continue over the next 72 hours.
Staff Reporter
City dwellers witnessed a brief but heavy rain coupled with thundershowers on Thursday afternoon.
Met office recorded a wind speed of 74 kilometers per hour in the capital in the afternoon, said AKM Nazmul Haque, said an official at the office.
The Met office earlier predicted that rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gust/squally wind is likely to occur over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Madaripur, Cumilla, Noakhali and Sylhet during the next 6-8 hours starting at 3.30pm Thursday. Besides, the rain/thunder shower activity is likely to continue over the next 72 hours.
