Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the aim of her government is to develop a fully service-oriented administration to ensure the welfare of people.

Repeated increase in the costs of different government projects, in line with the extension of the deadline for the projects’ implementation, has become a common practice nowadays.

Prof Shamsul Alam, a member of the planning commission’s General Economy Division (senior secretary), is set to be sworn in as state minister for planning at the Bangabhaban today.

Prof Dr Shamsul Alam has said project management and their fast implementation will be his top priority after taking charge as the state minister for planning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2021 needs to pick qualified people for promotion, aiming to build a strong military.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made no assurance of supplying vaccine from India any time soon during his meeting with Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen in Uzbekistan today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2021 needs to pick qualified people for promotions, aiming to build a strong military. 

As the government relaxed the restrictions from today, shoppers in Dhaka flocked to the markets and shops. Many were seen without masks or were wearing them under chin.

Dhaka streets and highways are witnessing heavy traffic as the government withdrew the nationwide “strict lockdown” for a week from today, amid fears of further spike in coronavirus transmission.

After a lockdown induced break, Bangladesh Railway (BR) resumed operations this morning.

The cabinet division yesterday asked people to avoid all sorts of public gatherings, wear masks and follow the health rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The government considers allowing garment factories to be open so that the biggest export-earning sector can continue production and keep their commitment with international buyers.

The government has taken up an initiative to introduce telemedicine service at 16,000 community hospitals across the country and bring 2000 hospitals under purview of digital service, said state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today warned that no irregularity will be tolerated in distributing stimulus packages, announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for those affected due to the pandemic’s impact. 

The Cabinet Division directed cattle market management committee to bar both the elderly and children from entering cattle markets.

The government yesterday announced a Tk 3,200 crore relief package for the ultra-poor and destitute families and the tourism sector -- segments that were dealt a fresh blow by the latest round of hard lockdown to contain the second wave of Covid-19 cases.

Relaxing the ongoing restrictions for eight days from tomorrow for the Eid-ul-Azha, the government yesterday decided to enforce a stricter lockdown across the country for two weeks from July 23 to rein in Covid infections.

Chattogram civil surgeon today asked Anwara upazila health and family welfare officer for an explanation on the photo published in media which showed Covid-19 vaccines being carried in an “unsafe way” from Chattogram Civil Surgeon office EPI store to the upazila.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will be holding bilateral meetings with his counterparts from India, China and Russia in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent where he will seek cooperation for speedy vaccine supply and solving Rohingya crisis.

The local administration in consultation with public representatives and local dignitaries will decide whether Eid-ul-Azha prayers will be held at mosques, Eidgah or open space depending on the intensity of coronavirus infection in each locality.