34 more Italy returnees taken to Ashkona camp

Thirty-four more Bangladeshis arrived in Dhaka from Italy -- one of the countries hit hardest by coronavirus -- this afternoon.

They landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a flight, hours after 142 Bangladeshis arrived by an Emirates flight and were quarantined at Ashkona Hajj Camp.

Dr Zahirul, a doctor at the health desk in the airport, said the 34 Bangladeshis were sent to the hajj camp for quarantine. He, however, could not provide further details on the returnees.

Meanwhile, the Italy-returnees, who have been demonstrating in front of the camp protesting "mismanagement" in the camp, stopped their protest this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, at least 30 out of the 142 Italy-returnees staged demonstration outside the camp in presence of police and Ansar members, saying that no doctors or health officials visited them till 2:45pm.

They also complained that there are more than five children among the returnees but no food was served.

"We are in good health -- no fever or no coughing. Let us go to our homes," they were shouting repeatedly.

Relatives of many returnees were seen supplying food inside the camp.

None there to look into it, the demonstrators said.

142 Italy returnees' body temperature normal: IEDCR

The body temperature of all 142 Italy-returnees quarantined at Ashkona Hajj Camp was normal, said Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Director Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora.

"IEDCR is collecting other information. On the basis of it, we'll take further steps," she said at a press briefing this afternoon.

The Bangladeshis arrived on an Emirates flight this morning, UNB reported, quoting Dr Shahriar Sajjad, in-charge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport medical team.

Death toll from coronavirus or COVID-19 reached 5,436 globally as of today. Besides, 145,810 total cases were reported from around the world, according to Worldometer.

Of them, 67,843 are currently infected while 72,531 patients have recovered.

Italy recorded the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe.