RAJSHAHI, April 4, 2020 (BSS) – The armed forces and other law-enforcement
agencies have stepped up their vigilance activities on non-essential
movements and public gatherings to stem the rampant spread of the coronavirus
(COVID-19) in the region.
The armed forces are seen working relentlessly, in aid of the civil
administration, to ensure ‘social distancing’ and ‘staying at home’ by
enforcing the restriction to contain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the civil administration and police have taken hard-line against
spreading rumors related to the virus.
Mobile courts fined 94 more people with a total of Taka 80,500 on the
charges of spreading rumors related to COVID-19 in the district yesterday
(Friday).
Additional District Magistrate Abu Aslam here today said mobile courts led
by executive magistrates found the people guilty of the charges.
The people were found involved in spreading various rumors in different
areas in Rajshahi city, Mohanpur, Durgapur, Tanore, Bagmara, Godagari and
Puthiya upazilas through Facebook and other social media which are harmful
for society as well as the public life, he added.
On the other hand, all the district administrations in Rajshahi division
have expedited their activities for bringing all the hand-to-mouth families
under food support programme.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said more than
2,640 tonnes of rice was, so far, distributed among 2,49,862 families while
Taka 79.86 lakh in cash among 1,13,700 families in the division.
There are more 2,262 tonnes of rice and Taka 95.84 lakh in cash in stocks
at present for distribution, he added.
To face any emergency situation, the division has 169 public and private
hospitals with 4,119 beds, including 1,753 prepared beds for treatment of the
COVID-19 infected patients.
Besides, 6,223 personal protection equipment (PPEs) have already been
distributed to protect the frontline people including doctors, nurses and
paramedics from infection of the virus, the commissioner said, adding 4,169
other PPEs remain stockpiled at present.