Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today assured that the government has paid special attention to keep people safe from coronavirus amid apprehensions of worsening situation in winter.

She said the government will procure vaccines as soon as they are available and has already provided advance payments for booking a vaccine which is about to be invented.

"We've given special attention to securing people (from coronavirus), putting aside other issues … So, the people of the country don't need to be anxious," she said while opening various development projects, including three bridges, in Magura, Narayanganj, Jashore and Pabna through a video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said that another wave of coronavirus is coming worldwide and the government is taking preparations from now on to face that.

She again urged everyone to follow health instructions.

The Prime Minister said the government and the people now have the experience of facing COVID-19.

"We firmly believe that we'll be able to do that (successfully tackling a second wave)," she said.

Bangladesh's coronavirus caseload stands at 445,281 with 6,350 fatalities, a death rate of 1.43 percent.

So far, 360,352 patients -- 80.93 percent -- have recovered, including 1,921 in the last 24 hours.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18.

The government has adopted a "no mask, no service" policy and recently, launched a drive to ensure the use of masks by people.

BRIDGES TO SPUR GROWTH

Talking about the newly-constructed bridges in Magura, Narayanganj and Jashore, Sheikh Hasina said that the socio-economic condition of the people will improve with the developed communication system.

She said that after coming to power, the Awami League government has built a huge communication network in the country.

"As a result, today our economy is very much active, we've started so many projects, Inshallah we'll complete them," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that the newly-constructed bridges in Jashore, Magura and Narayanganj would make the economy stronger, while communication and transportation of goods would be easier.

The Prime Minister said the Padma Bridge would make communication networks easier with other parts of the country as the newly-constructed bridges were open to traffic today.

Sheikh Hasina said her government could not implement all of its development plans due to the coronavirus pandemic this year.

But, the coordinated efforts of all including administration, police, BGB, Rab, and the Armed Forces, made it possible to keep the economy running, she said and extended her sincere thanks to all concerned for their efforts.

LGRD Minister M Tajul Islam and LGRD Secretary Helaluddin Ahmad also spoke, joining the event through video conference from the Cabinet division at Bangladesh Secretariat while businessmen Anjan Chowdhury also spoke at the programme from Pabna.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated a number of newly-constructed development projects through video conferencing from Gono Bhaban.