The offices of the Daily Sangram have been locked down while the news section of Deepto TV has been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
At least one reporter and three producers of Deepto TV have tested positive for coronavirus, according to sources.
This has forced the local TV channel to shut down its news section for 14 days.
Samples from those who came in close contact with the four infected persons would be collected by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) from their homes for testing, the sources added.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Ibrahim Azad, head of news of Deepto TV, said: “Our news section will be closed for the next 14 days.”
Meanwhile, the offices of Daily Sangram, a local Bangla newspaper, were put under lockdown by police on Thursday.
Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune, Hatirjheel police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Rashid, said: “We locked down the offices as per IEDCR directives.”
Tofazzal Hossain Kamal, senior reporter at Daily Sangram, said: “Syed Akter Siraji, who works here as a part-time proofreader, was admitted to Dhaka’s Kurmitola General Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.
“Upon recovery, he was released from the hospital today. I don’t know why, in this situation, police have locked down our office.”
Floor of a fruit market, a storehouse locked down in Karwan Bazar
Police have locked down a floor in a fruit market as well as an underground storehouse in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar after two people tested positive for coronavirus.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) Tejgaon zone Md Mahmud Khan said: “A businessman who had an underground storehouse in front of Daily Ittefaq’s office and a worker who lived on the second floor of a fruit market in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area tested positive for Covid-19.
“Both the locations have been locked down. Their homes have also been put under lockdown.”
As of Thursday, Bangladesh has confirmed 1,572 coronavirus cases, with the death toll rising to 60 after 10 new fatalities were reported.
The fast spreading Covid-19 has so far killed 142,000 people in more than 200 countries and territories.
