Bangladesh pandemic cases surpass half a million, with over 7,810 deaths
Officially, COVID-19 pandemic cases in Bangladesh stand at over 524,000 and deaths at more than 7,810, as medical experts criticise the callous disregard of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina’s government over its handling of the health emergency.
Nine months have already passed since the first COVID-19 related cases and deaths were reported: three cases on March 8 last year and on March 18, the first death.
The government’s under-estimation of the extent of the crisis was exposed after its figures were compared with those in other countries, which adopted the criminal “herd immunity” policy allowing the virus to run unchecked.
High prices tempt farmers to cultivate more Boro
A farmer tends to Boro seedbeds in Sherpur upazila of Bogura. Mostafa Shabuj Star Business Report Star Business Report
Farmers are showing an inclination towards cultivating more Boro paddy this season, tempted by higher prices prevailing in the market.
However, costs of labour, land lease, seed and fertiliser have also increased compared to that of last year, dampening their desires.
Take the instance of Khaja Mia of Milkipur village under Shibganj upazila of the northwest Bogura district.
The 48-year-old farmer doubled his cultivation area to 10 bighas of land after the Aman paddy he recently harvested fetched high prices compared to what he got the last time around.
A timely govt action to arrest rice price spiral newstoday.com.bd - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newstoday.com.bd Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The impact of Covid-19 on child marriage and other gender-based violence
Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights. Yet Unicef reported in April that the number of girls married in childhood stands at 12 million per year worldwide. Photo: Save The Children
I recently visited rural areas of Bangladesh amid the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to Dhaka with a new understanding of the impact that Covid-19 is having on child marriage, a harmful practice that is a global challenge. The fundamental shift that I saw was that child marriage, which has typically been encouraged by struggling parents, is now being encouraged by struggling girls. This worrisome trend underscores a new burden of the pandemic on the poor.
National Hygiene Survey 2018 report launched theindependentbd.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theindependentbd.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.