A total of 2,180 people across the country died with Covid-19-like symptoms from March 22 to September 5, according to a latest report.
The week between August 30 and September saw some five deaths, which was the lowest since the Covid-19 crisis began, showed the report prepared by a project styled 'Bangladesh Peace Observatory (BPO)' under Centre for Genocide Studies at Dhaka University.
The week between August 23 and August 29 witnessed some 16 deaths, the BPO unveiled the data.
Fifty seven people died of Covid-19-like symptoms in the previous week – from August 9 and August 15 – and the number of such deaths was 63 in the week between August 2 and August 8.
The July 26-August 1 week recorded deaths of 36 people with Covid-19-like symptoms and in the previous week from July 19 to July 25, some 71 people had died with similar symptoms.
The highest number of deaths with Covid-19-like symptoms was recorded in the week between June 21 and June 27 when a total of 222 people died.
The peace observatory project has prepared the report based on information from 25 media outlets, including national and regional dailies, TV channels and news portals. However, this information has not been verified from the field level.
The BPO project has been regularly publishing reports on multiple issues with financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to the report, Dhaka division saw 393 deaths with Covid-19-like symptoms from March 22 to September 5 while the number of deaths recorded in Chattogram division was 728 during the period. Mymensingh division had 60 such deaths, the lowest record, added the BPO report.
Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barishal divisions reported 101, 218, 95, 342 and 243 deaths respectively.
Meanwhile, the BPO report said law enforcers arrested 87 people on charges of ‘spreading rumours and false information’ about the virus in connection with 86 incidents from March 8 to September 5.
Four hospitals and diagnostic centres in Dhaka were heavily fined by law enforcement agencies for using expired surgical equipment, masks and irregularities in COVID-19 testing from 23-29 August.
Four clinics in Natore were also fined for not maintaining health rules from 30 August-5 September.
People are fined in most of the cases for not wearing masks in public, not maintaining health rules and violating social distancing in public. Also, three people were arrested in charge of manufacturing fake medicine for coronavirus in Narayanganj on 31 August 2020.
Besides, 628 people were arrested allegedly for embezzling relief materials, adulterating food and violating government guidelines on the pandemic as of September 5.
As many as 244 incidents of torture and social stigma related to the coronavirus crisis in the country were reported during the pandemic (till September 5).
Between April 26 and September 5, different districts witnessed a total of 273 incidents of protests that included demand for relief materials and assistance, payment of salaries and bonuses, irregularities in distribution of relief materials, medical equipment, mismanagement in the health sector and lay-off/closure and pay cuts. Some others demonstrated against lockdown rules, demanding accountability, against the proposed budget and bus fare hike and for reopening of the economy.
As many as 150 incidents of violence took place across the country following the coronavirus outbreak from March 12 to September 5.
At least 24 people were killed and 606 injured in such incidents, according to the BPO report.
