Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the government is mulling over closing educational institutions in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

"Closing schools and colleges is being discussed at the high level of the government. We are closely monitoring the situation. We will take necessary steps at the right time," he said.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, came up with the statements at a press conference after an AL secretariat meeting on celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the party president's political office at Dhanmondi in the city.

Noting that so far 149 countries across the globe have been affected by the virus, he said, "The coronavirus has created panic and anxiety across the world. Our people are also anxious about the disease."

Chinese authorities, however, sent a letter to the Bangladesh government sharing their experiences on controlling the disease as the epicentre of the virus, the minister said, adding that Bangladesh is ready to combat the disease as the government as well as AL are prepared as per directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

About the progress of the Padma Bridge construction work, Quader said 26 spans out of 41 have already been installed.

Informing that about 250 Chinese workers, out of some 1,000, had gone home on leave and some of them have already returned, he said the construction work of the bridge will face no problem even if the coronavirus-related situation prevails for two more months.

The work is progressing as per the target of completing the construction by June 2021, Quader said, adding, "Installation of all 41 spans will be completed by July this year."

Main opposition BNP today claimed that over 9,200 of its activists were arrested since the declaration of election schedule on November 8.

“Our activists were sued in 806 ghost cases since then,” Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary of the party, said at a press conference at Nayapaltan.

He claimed, 12,588 activists of BNP and its alliance Jatiya Oikyafront were injured in 2,716 incidents of attacks throughout the country in the last 22 days.

So far, eight opposition activists have been killed in election violence, he added.

“The government is applying all its power to oust BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront from the election,” Rizvi claimed. “Our activists are targeted from rally footages.”

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain today said no development is meaningful if people's right is not established in the country.

Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, a component of Oikyafront, said this at a press briefing held at the alliance’s Purana Paltan office in Dhaka this afternoon.

However, he in a press statement expressed hope that if the government and the Election Commission hatch any blueprint for the national election, then people of the country will foil it.

Calling upon the countrymen to go to the polling stations and cast votes, Dr Kamal said, “Through casting votes to your desired candidates, ensure your (people) ownership of the country and restore its democracy”.

“The EC has to take full responsibility if it fails to hold a free, fair and credible election on December 30 and the countrymen will compel it to answer for its failure,” he said in the statement.

“The EC must ensure a peaceful atmosphere for holding a free and fair election,” the Oikyafront key leader said.

About the role of law enforcers ahead of the election, he said, “Their behaviour is not acceptable”.

He alleged that police along with the ruling party men have been putting bar on the opposition candidates during their electioneering.

Just days ahead of the 11th national elections, Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury today said “situation is under control”.

He came up with the remark in response to a query by reporters at the Election Commission in Dhaka’s Agargaon this afternoon.

Shahadat’s comment comes a day after Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar expressed grave concern over the ongoing spate of violence ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on December 30.

Hoping for a free, fair and peaceful election, Shahadat said, “I admit that anxiety grew among people centering the election. I want to term it political heat”.

He said he did not think that the situation was deteriorating ahead of the polls.

WHAT DID ELECTION COMMISSIONER MAHBUB SAY YESTERDAY?

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder expressed grave concern over the recent incidents of violence.

Saying that violence and election cannot go hand in hand, he added,“If we cannot hold a peaceful election in a violence-free environment after 47 years of independence, the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs for independence and democracy will go in vain. We cannot allow this to happen.”

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today called upon all authorities concerned to work together to protect people from the risk of coronavirus spread --centring journey ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The BRTA mobile court will monitor the situation round the clock and it will take action, Quader said.

He made the call while addressing a meeting of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), held at its head office in Dhaka, through a video conference from his official residence.

About safety measures, he said all vehicles must be disinfected after end of each trip and vehicles cannot stop during journey, except for emergency or taking fuel.

Passengers, drivers and their assistants will have to wear masks and maintain physical distancing rules during the journey to avoid risk of spreading the virus, he said.

He said a joint taskforce formed by all stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, Dhaka north and south city corporations and BRTA will remain active at all terminals across the capital to make the efforts successful.

Alongside, the BRTA mobile court will remain active and they will go for immediate action whenever they receive complaints or find irregularities ahead of the journey, the minister said.

Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to ply the highways across the country-- from three days before Eid-ul-Azha, he said

Besides, emergency services like vehicles carrying medicines, newspaper, perishable goods and sacrificial animals will remain out of the purview of the restriction, he said.