Festival travel, vaccine shortage put Bangladesh at risk
May 13, 2021
Tens of thousands of people are leaving Bangladesh’s capital to join their families in home villages to celebrate the Islamic religious festival of Eid al-Fitr, despite stark warnings that the exodus could worsen the country’s sharply rising coronavirus outbreak
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Tens of thousands of people left Bangladesh's capital on Thursday to join their families in home villages to celebrate the Islamic religious festival of Eid al-Fitr, despite stark warnings that the exodus could worsen the country's sharply rising coronavirus outbreak.
People crowded exit points in Dhaka, defying a nationwide lockdown in effect until Sunday and a suspension of long-distance passenger buses, trains and ferries.
Authorities urged citizens not to congregate to offer special prayers for the festival on Friday and instead pray in phases in the country's more than 300,000 mosques while following health guidelines.
Health officials fear the chaotic mass travel will spread the coronavirus, especially a potentially more dangerous Indian variant already detected in the crowded nation of 160 million people, and reverse a recent hard-won decline in cases following weeks of nationwide lockdown.
Barricades and police posted on highways and at ferry terminals failed to stop the exodus on Thursday marking the end of the monthlong fasting month of Ramadan.
Many people walked or took risky rides in the back of produce trucks or small motorized vehicles to get to local ferry terminals to cross the mighty rivers. At least five people have died in stampedes since Wednesday when people packed ferries beyond their capacity. On Thursday, the body of a sixth person was retrieved from the water after a car fell into a river as it hurried to get a space on a ferry.
Shila Akhter, an employee at a private company, said she was desperate to join her family.
“As Muslims, we should celebrate Eid with our families,” she said. “Dhaka is the place of work for many of us. We work for the whole year. So, once in a year, we need to go home to our children and parents. They’re the reason I’m going home.”
The country’s garment industry, centered in Dhaka, employs about 4 million workers, mostly women, from rural areas.
On Monday, the World Health Organization designated a new virus version isolated in India a “variant of concern” based on preliminary research, alongside ones that were first detected in Britain, South Africa and Brazil.
In Bangladesh, the South African variant is already widely present and the U.K. variant has also been detected.
Viruses mutate constantly, and a surge in infections in a country could result in more opportunities for new versions to emerge.
“No matter what variant is here, the issue is whether our people are wearing masks and avoiding crowds,” said S.M. Alamgir, a senior scientific officer at the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.
“Risks are there to spread the virus because of the holiday rush,” he said.
The country suspended administration of second doses of vaccine for three days as the holidays began Thursday, but it will still have to skip about 1.4 million people because of a vaccine shortage.
The crisis began when India banned exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India because of its own devastating surge in infections.
Bangladesh has received only about 7 million doses from the Serum Institute despite a deal for it to supply 30 million doses by June. Bangladesh was forced to suspend administering first doses of vaccine on April 30.
On Wednesday, China sent 500,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccine to help Bangladesh cope with the shortage. Bangladesh has also signed a deal with Russia to produce the Sputnik V vaccine locally.
Health officials reported 31 deaths and 1,290 new cases on Thursday, for a total of 12,076 deaths and 778,687 confirmed cases since March last year.
MORE NEWS
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates, Day 13: Nitesh In Action Now In 97kg Greco-Roman Final
India at the Asian Games 2026 Live: Follow all the latest updates, scores and latest medals tally as India competes across various events on Day 13 in Japan.
Medical helicopter crashes off California coast, 2 dead and 1 missing
A medical helicopter crashed into the sea near Catalina Island, leading to multiple casualties and injuries. Two individuals aboard the helicopter were confirmed deceased at the scene shortly after the incident. While two others were transported to hospitals in stable condition, one person remains unaccounted for. Local authorities and the US Coast Guard initiated extensive search and rescue operations immediately following the crash.
Days after Xi-Trump summit, the US marks China’s National Day with pared-down note
Five days after Chinese President Xi Jinping left Washington, the US State Department marked the 77th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China with a greeting short enough to fit on a calling card. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s congratulatory statement landed on Wednesday, a few hours before dawn on National Day in Beijing. It made no mention of Xi’s visit, the trade understandings reached during the trip or the meetings the two leaders have scheduled for later this year. Washington...
JK govt notifies Electric Vehicle Policy 2026
The policy has set a six-year roadmap to expand clean, affordable and weather-resilient electric mobility across Jammu and Kashmir
Left parties step up protests in TN over 'deletion' of 13 cr voters, demand removal of CEC
Leading a demonstration near Washermanpet here, CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam alleged that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is being weaponised to systematically delete targeted voters from the electoral rolls
Gandhi wasn’t first choice for Indian currency notes: Who was considered instead & how 'Father of the Nation' became part of our banknotes
Today, Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait is almost instantly associated with Indian currency, but that was not the plan when India became independent. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the government initially considered replacing the portrait of King George on banknotes with Gandhi’s image. Designs were even prepared for this purpose.
India Edges Past Pakistan 4-3 To Enter Men's Hockey Final At Asian Games
Harmanpreet converted two perfectly executed penalty corners, while Sukhjeet Singh scored a field goal to give India 3-0 lead initially.
Rajkummar Rao lives in Rs 44 crore Juhu triplex with floor-to-ceiling windows, a city-view balcony, spiral staircase, reading nook, theatre-inspired décor, private gym and six parking spaces that he got after Shah Rukh Khan’s advice
Rajkummar Rao house tour: The actor lives with Patralekhaa and purchased a lavish triplex in Juhu for Rs 44 crore in 2022. This luxurious home features modern furnishings, large windows, and a spacious balcony with greenery. The couple's residence includes a private gym and artfully decorated areas for relaxation. Rao credits Shah Rukh Khan's advice for motivating him to invest in this high-value property. They had previously lived in the same building before acquiring the triplex.
Asian Games 2026: Team India registers record 11th 100-plus run win in men's T20I
India secured a record 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the semifinal of the Asian Gamers tournament. Ishan Kishan's 80 runs helped India post a total of 169 runs while batting first. Sri Lanka struggled significantly, finishing their innings with just 45 runs after 9.5 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Abhishek Sharma led the Indian bowling attack effectively. This match set multiple records for both teams in T20I history.
Delhi High Court grants bail to pro-ISIS group member in UAPA case
The Delhi High Court granted bail to Mohd Shahzal Kamal, an alleged member of a pro-ISIS group 'Harkat-ul-Harb-E-Islam,' in a case Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kamal and the other co-accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and wilfully abetted in providing funds for "jihadi activities" to the pro-ISIS group. He was arrested on August 31, 2021 in the NIA case registered in 2018
Delhi High Court grants bail to pro-ISIS group member in UAPA case
The Delhi High Court granted bail to Mohd Shahzal Kamal, an alleged member of a pro-ISIS group 'Harkat-ul-Harb-E-Islam,' in a case Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kamal and the other co-accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and wilfully abetted in providing funds for "jihadi activities" to the pro-ISIS group. He was arrested on August 31, 2021 in the NIA case registered in 2018
Christa Pike survived two lethal injection doses: Will the death penalty be postponed or will Tennessee try again soon?
Christa Pike was convicted of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville in 1995. Pike was 18 at the time. Prosecutors said Slemmer was taken to a wooded area, where she was tortured and killed.