Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has delivered ‘good news’ following direction of the Prime Minister to reopen educational institutions of the country after long one and half years of closure. She also said that all types of preparations have been taken in this regard. The minister was speaking as the chief guest in a discussion on the occasion of national mourning day organized by Awami Jubo Mohila League on Wednesday. Dipu Moni said, we are waiting for the favorable situation and hope that we will be able to reopen educational institutions very soon. She said, the honorable Prime Minister has been directing us from the very beginning in this crisis moment on how we would be able to reopen the educational institutions in shortest possible time. ‘The first thing is that we have to ensure the health safety of the students and guardians. Secondly, it has to be guaranteed that their learning is not interrupted. We have to continue the process as long as possible.’ She also said, thirdly, we should be prepared ourselves until the situation favors us and turns it normal when educational institutions are open. The premier has given us directions and we have all types of preparations accordingly. The minister said, you know that currently the coronavirus transmission and death rates are in downward trend. The infection rate is decreasing following the right decision of the government and cooperation from the people. ‘We hope that the transmission rate would come down to our desired stage that means the scientific stage when the situation would allow us to open the educational institutions. We hope that the situation will reach at the desired stage and we want all types of cooperation.’ Dipu Moni hoped that educational institutions can be reopened at the shortest possible time if people follow the health safety protocols. AH  

The land borders between India and Bangladesh have been closed to passenger movement by the Government of Bangladesh with effect from April 26, for two weeks. While the Indian High Commission does not encourage travel at the current juncture, given the pandemic situation, in the event some of Indian citizens have urgent and unavoidable need to travel back to India, Bangladesh authorities have put in place arrangements to enable Indian High Commission to facilitate passengers travel through only three land border crossings, namely – Akhoura (near Agartala, Tripura), Benapole (near Petrapole, in West Bengal) and Burimari (near Changrabandha, in West Bengal). If therefore passengers do need to travel to India through one of these border points, please help the authority facilitate clearances for passengers travel by registering on - https://hcidhaka.gov.in/RepatriationLandBorder. This will enable the Mission to seek necessary approval from Bangladesh authorities for passengers to be permitted to exit the country. NOTE FOR THE PASSENGERS – 1. The process will require a minimum of two working days to process each application. Please plan your travel accordingly, and do not reach the border prior to the date of your travel, to avoid inconvenience. 2. Each individual MUST apply separately. This means, you must fill the form separately for each accompanying family member. 3. Confirmation of approval from the Bangladesh authorities for you to travel back to India through the land border will be provided by the High Commission on the email/Mobile number provided by you during registration. 4. Please recheck details you have provided, especially your Passport Number, Email ID and Mobile number, before submitting the Form 4. Do not proceed to the Land border without receiving confirmation from HCI. Source: High Commission of India press release.

The government has directed to close all madrasas (residential and non-residential) in the country including the qawmi madrasas except the orphanage. In this regard a gazette was issued by technical and madrasa education division under education ministry on Tuesday. The gazette said, Prime Minister’s Office issued gazette on March 29 regarding closure of educational institutions due to increased Covid-19 situation. Currently lockdown across the country is going on. Earlier the government decided to keep educational activities stop in all the institutions till May 22. But undermining government directions some residential and non-residential educational institutions are open which is very risky for health in this Covid-19 situation. The gazette also said, concerned are requested to close all madrasas (residential and non-residential) including the qawmi madrasas except the orphanage. No relaxation will be allowed for obeying the direction. It will be effective immediately. AH     

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed for testing samples of at least two suspected persons in every upazila daily with an aim to prevent spread of coronavirus infection. The information was delivered in an online press briefing of IEDCR. Health directorate’s MIS branch Director Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman took part in the briefing. He said, the Prime Minister has directed to collect at least two samples from every upazila of the country. By this time following her direction Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad has directed different divisional directors to collect samples. Dr. Habibur Rahman hoped that on Thursday at least one thousand samples will be collected for testing across the country. In the briefing he said, two more people have been infected with coronavirus in the country in the last 24 hours. Both are male. One is aged between 30 to 40 and another is aged between 70 to 80 years. With this the number of coronavirus infected persons stands at 56 in the country. AH      

Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen said, Bangladesh government did not stop issuing visas for Pakistani nationals. But visas cannot be issued from Visa section of Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad due to manpower crisis. He said these to the newsmen while discussing the matter at his office in the ministry on Tuesday. The Foreign Minister said, Bangladesh is angry over Pakistan’s interfere in Bangladesh’s internal matter. But there is no scope of tension between Bangladesh and Pakistan on the visa issue. He said, Bangladesh may not issue visa on the ground of terrorism or other reasons to any specific person. But the process of issuing visa did not stop. We will send protest as wrong information was published in this regard on different news media. He said, they are not issuing visas to some of our officers. Specifically in the consular section- who issue visas are not being given visas. Then who will do the work of issuing visas? When asked about why there is no ambassador of Pakistan in Bangladesh, the foreign minister said, they sent one as a candidate, but sue to some reason that was not accepted. Then they will appoint somebody new in that place- this is the general rules. But they did not send anybody. We will consider the matter if they send some people. AH    

The very severe cyclonic storm “Fani” over southeast bay and adjoining southwest bay moved north-northwestwards, intensified further and now lies over southwest bay and adjoining southeast bay. It is likely to intensify further and move in a north/northwesterly direction, a special weather bulletin of the Met office said Tuesday. Reports BSS. “Fani” was centered at 12pm Tuesday about 1270 km southwest of Chattogram port, 1210 km southwest of Cox’s bazar port, 1190 km southwest of Mongla port and 1170 km southwest of Payra port. The sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre while the maximum sustained wind speed within 74 kms of the cyclone centre is about 130 kph rising to 150kph in gusts /squalls, said the bulletin. The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal number two, the bulletin added. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea. AH

Bangladesh Bank has directed for supplying sufficient money to the ATM booths of the banks during the election period. Besides direction was also given for uninterrupted transaction through Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), e-payment gateway. In the direction sent to the Managing Directors and Chief Executives it was said that all time service has to be ensured for ATM services and technical problems should be repaired immediately. Besides all time guard should be ensured for security. For POS, the all time service has to be ensured and to prevent forgery merchants and subscribers have to be cautious. For e-payment card based and for ‘card not present’ transaction two factor authentication system should be made operational. AH  

The government has directed factory owners of different industrial sectors including readymade garments to pay the salaries of July by August 10 and bonuses of Eid-ul-Azha by August 16 to the workers. After holding a review meeting on overall situation of the readymade garments and other industrial units and factories at the ministry meeting room on Thursday, State Minister for Labor and Employment Mujibul Haq Chunnu informed about the direction. The State Minister said, workers’ salaries for the month of July have to be paid by August 10 and bonuses have to be paid by August 16. Besides, workers’ salaries for the current month have to be paid by August 19. He said, factory owners were asked to grant leave for the workers by phases as like the previous. Workers unrest was not seen as decisions were implemented properly during the last Eid. Mujibul Haq mentioned that during Eid-u-Fitr one garments owner shut down the factory by not giving salaries of the workers. Later government discussed with the owners and took steps to give the due salaries to the workers. State Minister said that there will be no problem regarding salary-bonus of the workers in this time also. BKMEA Vice President Mostafa Kamal Pasha and BGMEA Vice President SM Mannan Kochi were present in the meeting. Roy Ramesh, Sirajul Islam Rony and Lisha Ferdous were present on behalf of the workers. AH