Bangladesh extends lockdown in Rohingya refugee camps

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladeshi authorities on Tuesday extended the ongoing coronavirus restrictions in some major Rohingya refugee camps in the southeastern Cox’s Bazar district for a week amid a surge in infections.

Earlier, local authorities imposed a 10-day strict lockdown until May 31, citing rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. The district administration said the restrictions will be in effect until June 6 except for emergency services.

According to the Cox's Bazar Civil Surgeon's Office, at least 10,214 people tested positive for coronavirus in the district and 111 died. The cases included 1,185 Rohingya and 16 of them died.

There are 376 beds dedicated for coronavirus patients and 10 intensive care unit beds in the local health facilities, according to official data.

- Universities allowed to hold physical, online exams

The University Grants Commission (UGC), the regulatory authority for public and private universities, Tuesday allowed the university authorities to conduct physical and online exams amid protests from the students across the country for the last couple of days.

“All public and private universities have been allowed to conduct direct and online examinations subject to conditions. However, examinations have to be conducted and evaluated in consultation with the Academic Councils of the respective universities,” the UGC said in a statement.

The decision was made at a UGC meeting attended by Education Minister Dipu Moni.

According to the instructions, all the students in universities will be vaccinated soon on the basis of priority allowance. Student dormitories will reopen soon after students get vaccinated.

However, schools and colleges will remain closed for in-person learning till June 12, and the Education Ministry directed authorities to make all necessary preparation to reopen schools on June 13 if the pandemic situation shows signs of improvement.

Schools have been suspended since March last year.

The overcrowded South Asian country of 165 million people has also extended the nationwide lockdown till June 6. So far, the total virus-related fatalities have reached 12,660 and infections stands at 802,305 as of Monday.

Earlier, Bangladeshi authorities further extended the closure of land borders for two more weeks till June 14 amid the worsening pandemic situation in Bangladesh and neighboring India.