Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the country people to exercise strict discipline in using electricity and all other resources, as no one can predict how long this global crisis will last. She said, "We need to increase our food production. We must make efforts on it. No one can say how long this global crisis will continue. Perhaps the world situation may worsen. However, we are doing everything possible to ensure the food security of our people." Prime Minister stated that the current unstable global situation could worsen. She said, "Food crisis, inflation, operating and transportation costs, and power shortage have made life unbearable for every individual in the world." She added, "The COVID-19 pandemic and later on Russia-Ukraine war, made food crisis, inflation, operating and transportation costs, and power shortage unbearable for every individual. According to the government's commitment, electricity has reached a hundred percent of the households." Referring to the global energy crisis in terms of fuel, coal, or gas, she said, "Now it is very difficult to buy fuel. Yet, our efforts have not stopped." She mentioned that the government has also made arrangements for the import of hydroelectricity.

China has registered its lowest quarterly growth since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the country's statistics bureau. The period was marked by lockdowns in Shanghai and elsewhere. China’s economy shrank by 2.6% in the April-June period, according to official data released on Friday. The period was marked by lockdowns in Shanghai and other cities as China struggled to contain a coronavirus outbreak. This is the weakest quarterly growth registered by the country since the start of the pandemic. Authorities praise stable recovery Beijing said that a stable recovery was underway after businesses reopened. The resurgence of the pandemic was effectively contained, China’s statistics bureau said in a statement. The national economy registered a stable recovery. China’s government is promising tax refunds, free rent and other aid to promote economic recovery, but most forecasters expect China to fall short of its 5.5% growth target this year. A spokesman for the statistics bureau said that consumer inflation is lower than in other countries due to Beijing’s restrained stimulus policy. Nonetheless, the spokesman said that China’s consumption recovery still faces constraints. What caused the economic slowdown? Shanghai, which contains the world’s busiest port, was shut down in late March. Factories and offices were allowed to start reopening in May. China responded to the 2022 outbreak with a zero-COVID policy, attempting to isolate every person who tests positive to the virus. Now, Beijing has switched over to a dynamic clearing policy which quarantines individual buildings and neighborhoods. Economists and business groups say China’s trading partners will feel the impact of shipping disruptions over the following months. The slowdown reduces demand for imported oil, food and consumer goods and also hampers China’s exports. Although China recovered quickly from the pandemic in 2020, economic activity weakened as Beijing increased controls on debt in the real estate industry. Growth declined due to a slump in construction and housing sales. One of China’s biggest developers, Evergrande Group, has struggled to avoid defaulting on $310 billion in liabilities under the new conditions.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today (Monday) said the government has taken strict action to ensure normal supply situation of the edible oil side by side selling the oil at fixed prices at the retail level. "We have told all the agencies to take stern action so that there is no fraud anywhere. Oil should be sold at the price that has been fixed," he said while speaking to reporters following a meeting with soybean oil vendors at his office in the secretariat. Referring the recent rise the price of edible oil in the international market, he said, "Considering the price situation in the international market and neighboring countries, we are trying to keep the price of edible oil in the local market as low as possible." He said the real reason behind the shortage of edible oil supply during Eid has been identified. "Attempts have been made to stockpile oil at the dealer and retail level. As a result, there is a shortage in supply. That's why the Directorate of Consumers Right Protection is conducting raids at the store and dealer level, they are also imposing fines," he said. He said "We have asked the traders' association to cancel the dealership of those who have committed this heinous act." Tipu informed that the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will resume sale of edible oil at Taka 110 a litre of bottled soybean oil from June to its one crore cardholder families. "We will sell the edible oil at Taka 110 per litre to one crore TCB cardholder families from June," he added.  Among others, Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Chairman (Secretary) Md Afzal Hossain, among others, were present on the occasion. Tipu said the price situation of edible oil in the world market needs to be highlighted through publicity. "Edible oil is an import dependent product. Only 10 per cent of the country's total demand is being met from local production. The remaining 90 per cent is being imported. This has also affected our country due to rising prices of edible oil in the international market and transportation costs," he added. He said the government is trying to keep the price of edible oil at a reasonable level and supply in normal so that there is no shortage of oil in the market. Recently, Bangladesh's edible oil refiners increased the price of bottled soya bean oil by Taka 38 a litre to Taka 198 a litre. Highlighting the price of edible oil in the international market and neighboring countries, Tipu Munshi said that soybean oil is currently being sold at Bangladeshi Taka 213 to 224 per liter in India, Taka 236 to 238 per liter in Pakistan and Taka 197 to 214 per liter in Nepal. He mentioned that soybean oil in the international market is US$2,000 per ton and the price of palm oil is $1950 per ton. The minister said the rise in edible oil prices in the international market and rising transport costs have had an impact on the local market. He sought the cooperation of the media to make the people aware about the rising prices of edible oil in the international market. Source: BSS AH

The government will relax the ongoing strict restrictions on different matters including public movement and transports, which was imposed to check the spread of coronavirus pandemic, from July 15 to 22 on conditions. The Cabinet Division will issue a notification to this end tomorrow, said an official handout today (Monday). But strict restrictions will again be imposed from July 23. Source: BSS AH

A week-long strict lockdown to tackle the spread of Corona virus continues for the fourth consecutive day across the country as Police, army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel have been working to enforce the tight curb. The law enforcement agencies are seen patrolling different city roads since the morning while check posts also have been set up at several places in the capital.   Police arrested 550 people on the first day of the ongoing lockdown, while the mobile courts fined 182 people Tk 1,32,395 across the country. A total of 621 people were arrested from the capital and 346 people were fined Tk 1,06,450 on the third day of the ongoing lockdown (Saturday, July 3) for disobeying government orders during a joint operation of 8 divisions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Also, the RAB’s executive magistrates conducted 31 mobile courts across the country and fined 277 people around 2 lakh Tk across the country for violating the ban on the same day. According to the RAB headquarters, the elite force is in the field all over the country to enforce the ongoing restrictions and increase public awareness. To curb the spread of Covid-19, the Cabinet Division imposed a week-long restriction on the overall activities and movement of the citizens' from July 1. In case of emergency, one must wear a mask and maintain the social distancing while going outside. Source: BSS AH

To curb the spread of the corona virus, the government has issued a notification imposing restrictions on the overall activities and public movement.   The instructions will be applicable for the overall activities and public movement from 8 am tomorrow (July 1) to midnight on July 7.   The notification was issued by the Field Admin Coordinating Wing of the Cabinet Division today.   It is said that in view of the current situation of Covid-19 infection, the following conditions have been imposed from 8 am on July 1 to midnight on July 7:      All government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices will remain closed.   Public transport will be closed on road, rail and waterways (including domestic flights) alongside all types of motorized vehicles.   All shops including shopping mall or market will be closed.   All tourist centers, resorts, community centers and recreation centers will be closed.   Public gatherings such as social ceremony (wedding , reception and walima, birthdays, picnics and parties), political and religious ceremonies will be closed.   The Bangladesh Supreme Court has issued necessary directions to the courts while Bangladesh Bank has issued necessary instructions to ensure banking services.   Employees and vehicles of offices related to Law and order and emergency services, such as: agricultural products and materials (fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and agricultural machinery), transportation of food grains and foodstuffs, relief distribution, healthcare, ensuring Covid-19 vaccination, revenue collection related activities, electricity, water, gas or fuel, fire service, telephone and internet (public-private), media (print and electronic media), private security systems, postal services, banks, pharmacy and pharmaceuticals and other essential or essential goods and services can travel subject to display of identity card.   Trucks, lorries or covered vans or cargo vessels used for transporting goods will be exempt from the ban.   Ports (air, sea, naval and land) and related offices shall be excluded from the purview of it.   Industries will continue to operate their own activities following hygiene rules.   'Kacha bazaar' and daily necessities can be bought and sold in open places from 9 am to 5 pm in accordance with hygiene rules and the concerned trade organization or market authority and local administration will monitor the matter.   No one can go outside homes in any way except for urgent needs (purchase of medicines and necessities, medical services, burial or cremation). Legal action will be taken against those who disobey the instructions.   Individuals can travel for vaccination subject to display of vaccination card.   Food shops, hotels and restaurants will be able to sell food (online or takeaway) from 8 am to 8 pm.   International flights will remain open and foreign passengers will be able to travel using the car by displaying their international travel tickets.   The Ministry of Religious Affairs will give instructions regarding prayers in the mosque following the hygiene rules.   Armed Forces will deploy the required number of troops to ensure effective patrols at the field level under the 'Army in Aid to Civil Power' provision. The district magistrate will contact the local army commander to confirm the matter.   The district magistrate will hold a coordination meeting with the concerned officers at the district level to determine the jurisdiction, method and time and patrol of Army, BGB, Police, RAB and Ansar.   Besides, if any special activities is needed locally, the concerned person will take action in that regard and the concerned ministries or departments will provide necessary instructions in this regard at the field level.   The Ministry of Public Administration will ensure the appointment of the required number of executive magistrates at the field level.   The Director General of Directorate General of Health Services will empower the district administration and the police force to take legal action on his behalf. Source: BSS AH

The government has taken decision to enforce a seven-day countrywide strict restrictions since July 1, engaging the Armed Forces, BGB and Battalion Police aiming to check the coronavirus transmission. “There’ll be no movement pass . . . None can go outside rather they will have to stay indoors,” Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed newsmen today (Monday) emerging from the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the Cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The Cabinet Secretary said a notification will be issued on Tuesday to inform the government’s orders regarding the restrictions. “We’re going in a very strict view to execute the movement restrictions from 6am on July 1 to 12am on July 7,” he said, replying to a question from reporters. Only those who are in emergency services are allowed in outside during the restriction, he added. Mentioning that all forces including the Armed Forces, BGB and Battalion Police will be engaged here, Anwarul Islam said, “They (forces) will patrol and take legal action if anyone violates (the restriction).” The forces have given the authority to take all necessary measures to executive the restriction and asked to remain alert so that people cannot break it, he said. In the cabinet meeting, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief was given a clear directive to sort out a programme to ensure proper assistances for the poor particularly in the urban areas during the upcoming restriction as it did in the last year, he said. Mentioning that a meeting was held with the Home Minister in the chair on Saturday last to discuss about the restrictions, he said they will sit in a meeting again to discuss about the restrictions details and then the government’s orders will be informed through issuing a notification on Tuesday. He said the government cannot go for a strict restriction till 30 June on some realistic grounds. So, it will start on July 1, he added. Anwarul Islam said the Covid infection rate has declined significantly in Chapainawabganj due to strict execution of the restrictions there. Source: BSS AH

Earlier the government decided to impose ‘strict lockdown’ starting from Monday (June 28), but after passing one day they have changed their decision. After holding a high level meeting it was announced that the all out lock down across the country will be effective from Thursday (July 1). A circular will be issued from the cabinet division in this regard. The meeting in the virtual platform was held with home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair. The lockdown will continue just for one week. AH

The strict restrictions have been extended for one more week as the coronavirus pandemic situation is currently not under control. But automobiles will ply abiding by the health guidelines like previous. The order has been issued in this regard from the cabinet division on Sunday. As per the earlier decision the tenure of ongoing restrictions is scheduled to end tonight. The circular issued on Sunday signed by cabinet division Deputy Secretary Rezaul Islam reads, the tenure of restrictions has been extended till June 6 midnight (Sunday) keeping the ongoing conditions to prevent coronavirus transmission. Mentionable, the strict lockdown began from 6 am on April 14 for seven days. Later it was extended for five times. At last the circular was issued from the cabinet division extending the restrictions till May 30 from May 23. In this period permission was given for plying public transport services including inter district bus, launch and train under condition of abiding by the health safety guidelines. As well as the hotels and restaurants have been permitted to serve by allowing filling up half of the seats. At present government, private and autonomous offices and educational institutions are closed. But the special service providing institutions are open in a limited scale following executive order of the government. According to cabinet division and public administration officials, the government wants to take the decision to extend or lift the restrictions after analyzing it properly. Because, still there is concern about Indian variant of coronavirus. If the government fails to control the reckless movement of people by lifting the restrictions then a disaster could be happened. Again keeping offices closed for long period is also a matter of loss. A top official of public administration ministry said, the government is very much concern about Indian variant. Now lockdown has been imposed in the bordering districts. Restoring that decision lockdown would also be imposed in the areas where coronavirus infection rate is higher. In this regard there will be some restrictions to obey health safety rules including wearing masks. AH     

Police will take strict and legal action against the people who would organize anti Modi meeting and procession centering the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi to Bangladesh. Special Branch (SB) chief and acting DMP commissioner Md. Monirul Islam said this. He said this while briefing the newsmen about the upcoming Bangladesh visit of different state and government chiefs on the occasion of birth centenary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of independence. Monirul Islam said, those who are holding meeting, processions should be conscious about the real fact. Otherwise legal action will be taken against them. He urged the political parties for not declaring political programs during the programs of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and golden jubilee of independence. He said, I request them for not announcing political programs as VVIP guests would come. Monirul Islam said, there might be some problems for people’s movement as the programs would run from March 17 to 26. I request the people to start to attend their offices or examinations before the scheduled time. People should sacrifice considering the honor of the state. AH