Govt cancels Independence Day ceremonies

Govt cancels Independence Day ceremonies

The government has cancelled the Independence Day ceremonies, including placing wreaths at the National Memorial, on March 26 amid the rise in coronavirus cases.

Besides, the civic reception at Bangabhaban marking the Independence Day and the Swadhinata Padak, the highest state award, distribution programme has also been cancelled.

The decision was taken after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Saturday evening, said President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin.

Earlier in the day, the government confirmed the second death from coronavirus.

"The total death from the coronavirus infection in the country is now two. Four new patients have been diagnosed with the disease,” Health Minister Zahid Maleque announced at a press briefing after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The deceased, aged around 73, had comorbidity, he said.

The minister said 50 people are in institutional quarantine and around 14,000 people are home-quarantined across the country," he said.

Bangladesh reported the country’s first death from coronavirus on March 18.

On March 8, the IEDCR announced for the first time the detection of three Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh.