In major cities of Bangladesh, people generally do not know much about their next-door neighbours even though they may have been living side by side for years.

Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body, the Council of Senior Scholars, urged Muslims worldwide to pray at home during Ramadan if their countries require social distancing to curb the spread of the coronavirus, state news agency SPA reported yesterday.

The non-government organisations want the government to engage them in tackling the crisis caused by Covid-19 which has far-reaching impacts on people, health and economy, especially on the poor and vulnerable communities across the country.

Bangladesh Cabinet today discusses the report presented to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by DP Dhar, chairman of the policy planning committee of the Indian external affairs ministry, on matters relating to the India-Pakistan emissary level talks.

More than 260 million Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter Sunday, with church leaders asking worshippers to stay at home to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus.

The United States called on China on Saturday to stop “bullying behaviour” in the South China Sea and said it was concerned by reports of Beijing’s “provocative actions” aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

Iran allowed some businesses in the capital Tehran to re-open on Saturday as the country’s daily death toll from the new coronavirus fell to 73, its lowest in more than a month.

A coronavirus lockdown policy that lets men and women leave the house on alternate days has exposed a gender divide in Bogota within days of being introduced, while Peru has dropped a similar scheme after finding it made women’s days busier.

North Korea sharply stepped up trade in coal and oil products last year in defiance of UN sanctions through the apparent help of China’s shipping industry, a UN panel said Friday.

Ireland has successfully “flattened the curve” of coronavirus transmission and no longer expects a peak in infections, chief medical officer Tony Holohan said.

Leaders of Dhaka Union of Journalists have expressed deep concern over 16 journalists, including nine in Dhaka, getting infected with coronavirus.

A 35-year-old man died, after showing coronavirus symptoms, at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital yesterday.

The World Health Organization issued warned Friday that there was no evidence serological tests can show whether a person has immunity or is no longer at risk of becoming reinfected.

Around eight people, including two children, died while three were injured in separate incidents of being struck by lightning in four districts yesterday.

To prepare ground for the summit conference between Indira Gandhi and ZA Bhutto, the emissary level meeting between India and Pakistan will begin in Rawalpindi on April 25, 1972.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic could possibly be the best opportunity for smokers to quit their habit.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police is set to go tougher on those who would roam around streets as the number of Covid-19 patients has been ratcheting up in the country.

Police yesterday arrested Abdus Sattar, chairman of Arjunpur Baramahati union parishad, for allegedly assaulting a farmer who called the hotline for relief in Natore’s Lalpur upazila.

Inadequate relief distribution is compelling farm labourers in Rajshahi, mostly from indigenous communities, to travel outside their villages and unions to look for agricultural work.

A man allegedly raped a schoolgirl in the toilet of Dharbila community health centre in Pabna around noon on Thursday.