Two Bangladeshis carrying foreign passports were refused entry into Bangladesh after they landed at Sylhet MAG Osmani International Airport by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Thursday.
Flight BG 202 from London Heathrow landed in Sylhet at 10:30 am. One of the two passengers - one with a French passport and the other with a Portuguese passport landed here along with other Bangladesh-origin passengers.
But as they were carrying European passports the two were refused entry into Bangladesh due to coronavirus-related restrictions, an official said, adding, their immigration formality was not done here and the two were handed over to the Biman authority for arranging their return flights.
One of the two hails from Beanibazar upazila in Sylhet while the other was from Chittagong, the official added.
Meanwhile, two expatriates were fined for arranging marriage functions in violation of restrictions now in force. Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kulaura in Moulvibazar also executive magistrate conducted the mobile court drive and fined a man, who had returned home from Oman.
On their return from Oman, the two were earlier asked to remain in home quarantine for 14 days. But one of them arranged his marriage ceremony Thursday and the other was set for Friday. On information, an executive magistrate fined both of them.
Besides, the administration fined on Wednesday three expatriates in the Moulvibazar district town for violating restrictions over quarantine.
A mobile court in Bogura fined one for violating the order to stay in home quarantine on Thursday — FE Photo
Earlier, the three had returned home from abroad and were asked to be in home quarantine. But they were moving freely in the town and accordingly were fined Tk 20,000.
Besides, another marriage was foiled and both the bride and groom parties were fined Tk 50,000.
The marriage ceremony venue the Poura community Centre was also fined Tk 50,000 on charge of renting the venue for the marriage function.
An official said the expatriate bride had returned from Greece on March 08 and along with the bridal party went to the said community centre this afternoon for marriage ignoring the restrictions to be in quarantine. On information a mobile team stopped the marriage and asked for keeping the man on quarantine.
In the same way another man, who had returned from Kuwait was fined today as he was moving in a market ignoring quarantine.
Our Naogaon Correspondent adds: Amid the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, some 41 new people have been kept in quarantine at their own residences in the district. All of them are expatriates.
Till Thursday, the number of total quarantined people in the district stood at 134 after six of them had completed the 14 days' of quarantine period, according to District Civil Surgeon office.
Dr. AM Akhtaruzzaman, District Civil Surgeon, said, "We have received a list of sixty new expatriates, most of whom had returned to the district from India and different Middle Eastern countries on Thursday."
"We are trying to ensure to keep all of them at quarantine soon. An 80-bed and another 20-bed unit have been prepared in the district for treatment of the affected people although no one has been infected yet", he added.
Meanwhile, a mobile court led by sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)
Abdullah Al Mamun fined a person Tk 4,000 for violating the rules of quarantine on Wednesday evening.
The accused, Mojaffar Hossain, 38, returned from Qatar few days ago. Since then, he was roaming around his neighbourhood and nearby markets. On information, the mobile court rushed and sent him to quarantine after imposing the fine.
UNO Abdullah Al Mamun said restrictive measures will continue till mitigating the crisis aiming to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
"We will take stern action against those who violate quarantine rules for the sake of public safety", Mr Mamun added.
Meanwhile, Our Correspondent from Cumilla adds: Some 610 people from various places in Cumilla district have been placed in the home quarantine on suspicion of having coronavirus. Of these, 301 have been placed in the new home quarantine in the last 24 hours. And at the end of the home quarantine, three people were granted exemption certificates.
This information was confirmed on Thursday afternoon by Cumilla District Civil Surgeon Dr Md Neatuzzaman.
Meanwhile, public meetings were banned for an indefinite period at Cumilla Town Hall grounds to avoid the risk of coronavirus. The order came into effect on Wednesday night after the directive issued by the Cumilla Deputy Commissioner.
Helal Uddin, general secretary of Cumilla Town Hall, confirmed the matter.
He said that under the direction of Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md. Abul Fazar Mir, public meetings were banned from Wednesday night at Townhall grounds for an indefinite period.
Earlier on Tuesday, according to government directives to prevent the spread of coronavirus, children's park and urban park (Dharmasagarpar) have been declared closed indefinitely in Cumilla. And other public and private parks in Cumilla have also been closed as a precautionary measure as the outbreak of the coronavirus increases.
Apart from this, the gate of the Eidgah ground in the city was also locked to avoid public meetings and industrial trade fair were also closed for indefinite period. In addition, all tourist sites in the Kotbari area have been closed indefinitely due to coronavirus.
Cumilla District Civil Surgeon Dr Md Neatuzzaman said, we are collecting data from the whole district every day and publish it later. So far, we have placed 610 people in the home quarantine of 17 upazilas and one city corporation area in Cumilla district. we have come to know from various sources that some in the home quarantine are not exactly obeying our instructions. We are also investigating the matter. If they disobey our instructions, strict action will be taken.
He said, an Italian expatriates was fined Tk 10,000 for violating home quarantine instruction in Laksam in the district. In addition, the mobile court has locked his house for quarantine.
"The Italian expatriate was with his wife and two children at home quarantine one day. On Wednesday, he disobeyed the instructions and began moving outside. On receiving this news, we took immediate action", he added.
The civil surgeon said that the administration, including Cumilla's health department, was well prepared to combat coronavirus. We have formed a committee in every union ward of the district. The people of these committees are always giving us information.
The district health department has prepared 100-bed isolation unit at various hospitals in Cumilla district to combat coronavirus. Besides, 19 medical teams are on the alert.
He said, it is important for us to remember that no one in the home quarantine is a confirmed patient with coronavirus. They came to Bangladesh from travel or work from different countries. Therefore, they are initially advised to be placed on the list and be warned about association with others. However, on the whole, the identities of the people in the home quarantine have been kept secret.
Besides, Netrakona correspondent says: Some 34 expatriates have been quarantined at home in the district. A total of nine people who returned from different countries, including China, Italy, Jordan, Oman, Malaysia, Bahrain, Singapore, Spain and Saudi Arabia were placed in home quarantine in the district to prevent spread of coronavirus.
Civil Surgeon of Netrakona Dr Taziul Islam said the people are in good health. Netrakona Modern Hospital has already kept 50 beds to treat the coronavirus patients and it can be extended at any time if it is needed, Civil District Surgeon official sources said.
Also few beds in every upazila have been dept prepared for coronavirus affected patients, sources added.
Bogura Correspondent adds: Separate mobile courts have realised fines worth Tk 25,000 from two expatriate on Thursday for not being at home on quarantine.
The convicted persons are Biplob Hossain (34) at Mobuakhali village of Gosibari union under Dhunot upazila and Ferdaus Hossain at Mukuri village of Gobindapur union under Dupchanchia upazila.
Locals said that Biplob Hossain had been working at a supply company for a company in Malaysia for a long time. He returned home from Malaysia on March 10 and was asked to stay in home quarantine for at least 14 days.
But he disobeyed the instruction and went to local haats and bazars. Biplob Hossain was seen walking out of the house during a mobile court raid on Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, UNO of Dhunot Razia Sultana fined him Tk 5,000 for violating the order. At the same time, she made sure to stay in his home quarantine.
Upazila Executive Officer Razia Sultana confirmed the information and said that the returning overseas persons were advised to stay in their home quarantine for 14 days.
Meanwhile, people returning from Dhunat upazila are being monitored. Legal action will be taken against those who disobey this order.
Besides, Ferdous Hossain has been fined Tk 20,000 for disobeying orders to stay in home quarantine after returning from Saudi Arabia.
UNO of Dupchanchia SM Zakir Hossain was fined by the mobile magistrate's court on Thursday afternoon.
Upazila Health Directorate and local sources said that Ferdous, a Saudi expatriate son of Mojibur Rahman, of Moukuri village of Gobindpur union of the upazila, returned home on March 06.
The local administration instructed him to stay at his home quarantine for 14 days. Disobeying the directive, Ferdous Hossain was living a normal life.
Upazila Executive Magistrate UNO SM Zakir Hossain confirmed the matter, adding that the person returning from overseas was warned to stay at home quarantine for 14 days with a warning.
A total 291 people have been placed in home quarantine on suspicion of corona virus in Bogura till Thursday.
The people have come to Bogura from different countries including Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait and India have been ordered to remain at home quarantine to control the virus.
Rajshahi correspondent writes: A mobile court in Rajshahi has realised a fine worth Tk 5,000 from the owner of Shah Maskhdum Rice Agency for allegedly increasing the price of rice abnormally capitalising coronavirus situation.
Sources said, district administration in Rajshahi has taken strict measures to keep prices of essentials in the markets normal amid coronavirus scare.
The mobile court led by Additional District Magistrate Abu Aslam conducted the raid at Kumarpara wholesale rice market area of the city on Thursday morning.
Our Tangail Correspondent states: In the last twenty-four hours, 69 people have been placed at home quarantine. Till Thursday, a total 171 people placed at home quarantine. They have recently returned home from abroad.
Among them, doctors released some eleven people from home quarantine after a proper investigation, Civil Surgeon Office sources said.
Moreover, three people of Mirzapur, Bashail and Ghatail upazila were fined Tk 10,000 each as they disobeyed doctors' instruction.
Also a mobile court in Tangail Sadar fined 'Markaz Madrasa' Tk 5,000 as they continued educational activates at their institution violating government order.
