A total of 2,156 people died with Covid-19-like symptoms in the country in five months till August 22, according to a latest report.
The week between August 16 and August 22 saw some 45 such deaths, shows the report prepared by a project styled 'Bangladesh Peace Observatory (BPO)' under Centre for Genocide Studies at Dhaka University.
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 death 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 death 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 it collected from 25 media outlets, including national and regional dailies, TV channels and news portals.
However, this information has not been verified at the field level, authorities admit. 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 392 deaths with Covid-19-like symptoms from March 22 to August 22 while the number of death recorded in Chattogram division was 724 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, 217, 93, 327 and 242 deaths respectively.
Meanwhile, the BPO report said law enforcers arrested 87 people on charges of ‘spreading rumours and false information’ about the virusin connection with 86 incidents from March 8 to August 22.
Public transport drivers and vehicles were fined between August 9 and August 15 for violation of the government order on limits of carrying passengers and of health safety guidelines.
Also, 624 people were arrested allegedly for embezzling relief materials, adulterating food and violating government guidelines on the pandemic as of August 22.
As many as 243 incidents of torture and social stigma relating to the coronavirus crisis in the country were reported during the pandemic (till August 22).
Between April 26 and August 22, different districts witnessed a total of 273 incidents of protests that include 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 149 incidents of violence took place over disputes across the country following the coronavirus outbreak from March 12 to August 15.
At least 24 people were killed and 606 injured in such incidents, according to the BPO report.