On the occasion of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore’s 159th birth anniversary, let us take a look at some of his short stories, translated to English, that you can enjoy, as you self-isolate at this time.

CoronaCast, a Facebook-based online platform initiated by five Bangladeshi students from the University of Oxford, shares just the right information on the novel coronavirus via LIVE sessions, every day. Initially, the team wanted to start a discussion based on valid and updated research, which is important for COVID-19, as it is termed to be a novel virus, and research on it is still on at the preliminary level.

The COVID-19 crisis has crippled entire systems, including the RMG and agriculture sectors. It appears that food safety will be a major challenge in the country, after the pandemic. In order to overcome this challenge, Alok Chandra Das, founder of Anushilon Mojar School, has taken an initiative to distribute free vegetable seeds and pesticides among the marginal farmers in his area, under the project, Courtyard Agriculture.

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, offices have switched to work-from-home and schools have moved to online classes. Economies around the world are coming to a standstill while numerous industries are falling apart, and the number of deaths continues to rise. In such circumstances, books can create a wonderful distraction to us. To enhance the impact of technology and books in our lives, International School Dhaka (ISD) organised Virtual Book Week for the Middle-Year Programme (MYP) students (Grade 6-10).

While the whole world is focused on the rapidly spreading coronavirus right now, there are a few other constant diseases we must not forget about. No matter how insignificant they may seem at the moment in comparison to the current pandemic, they are just as deserving of our attention. For some it is high blood pressure, while for others, it is diabetes. Then, there are the silent battles – depression and anxiety, to name a few.

Youth Op for this week

To help the underprivileged communities, AMAL Foundation, has been providing food and basic healthcare since the country went into isolation through their initiative ‘Rukhbo Corona’. It is a social organisation working to stop child marriage and domestic violence alongside providing free healthcare facilities in rural regions, founded by Esrat Karim.

The youth-led organisation, Prochesta Foundation, is distributing food and necessary goods to underprivileged communities, as the nation copes with the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, they provided aid to 1,000 low-income families in Tejgaon, Nakhalpara, Hatirjheel, Ashkona, Munshiganj Bedarpalli, Hazaribagh, Mirpur and three orphanages. Their packages are comprised of around 8,000 kg of rice, 3,500 kg pulses, 7,000 kg potatoes, 1000 liters of oil, 500 kg of salt, 2.000 bars of soap, 500 kg of onions, 3,500 eggs and other necessary items, which the families can utilise for around eight to twelve days. In addition, they have conducted cleanliness and awareness campaigns for 350 children. They are also carrying out awareness campaigns through phone calls.

Students, teachers and staff of Chittagong Grammar School (CGS) and their families celebrated the first day of the Bengali New Year remotely, singing the National Anthem in tandem with each other.

Peace Talk Café, presented by Digital Khichuri Challenge, hosted an online discourse with the youth on misinformation and hoaxes surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, recently.

Empty streets, closed shop doors and a few faces dwelling on the roads in masks-- this is how Dhaka, one of the busiest cities, looks in isolation. While most individuals employed in management and other official sectors are working from home at the moment, the daily labourers, who composite a large number of our population, such as rickshaw and van pullers, house maids, blacksmiths and potters are left jobless for several weeks now. To help them, Eco-Network, an organisation founded by 7 university students to conserve nature and rebuild our environment, has extended their work boundaries with few initiatives, which includes distribution of food and cleaning items to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

SM Anamul Arefin, a Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University graduate, has been working hard to manufacture reusable, plastic face shields, in a bid to prevent coronavirus infections.

Youth OP of this week.

As a safety measure against the coronavirus pandemic, Dhaka has been in isolation since the past few weeks. While the educational institutes have suspended face-to-face classes, most offices have arranged work from home facilities for their employees. The labourers, who have to depend on their daily earning for survival, are currently in distress. Under such circumstances, BD Clean, a social organisation that aims to build a clean nation, in association with Atiqul Islam, the current mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and his volunteers from the initiative, ‘Shobai Mile Shobar Dhaka’ have been distributing food packages to underprivileged communities in Dhaka from April 6.

Dhaka Youth Club and Mohajon Foundation established the Manobik Store in Bongshal to help underprivileged families during the global coronavirus crisis. With the slogan, bhalo thakun, bhao rakhun, the initiative was funded from their own accounts and maintained by the members of the club and the foundation.

In these dire times, Bangladesh lacks proper healthcare equipment and necessary protective gear for doctors and other medical professionals.

Offices, malls and educational institutions have been shut down across the country, in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Yet, many are unaware of such rigorous measures, especially social distancing. With an aim to raise awareness on the contagious virus, a group of young people from Bogura created a Facebook group, titled ‘Corona and Situation of Bogura’, last month.

Owing to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, a shutdown was announced in Bangladesh recently. This shutdown has taken a serious toll on the underserved communities.

As Bangladesh copes with the coronavirus pandemic with a shutdown, a large number of daily wage earners have lost their earning sources. These marginalised and underserved groups are barely getting by. Rikshaw pullers, technicians, plumbers, street vendors, and street food sellers among others are at vulnerable positions at the moment. Mission Save Bangladesh, in association with The Daily Star, Sheba XYZ and The Daily Samakal, took a commendable step to support these people.

A free transport service for caregivers, including doctors and nurses, will start operating from April 1 so that medical service providers can go to hospitals from their homes in a fast and convenient way, as Bangladesh copes with the coronavirus pandemic.