Bangladesh scraps Independence Day ceremonies for Covid 19

FT ONLINE 

The country today scrapped the Independence Day ceremonies after a meeting of President Abdul Hamid with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabhaban, a presidential palace spokesman said.

"The meeting decided to cancel all the major Independence Day ceremonies in view of the Covid 19 outbreak across the world," President's press secretary Joynal Abedin said.

He said offering of wreaths at the National Memorial on March 26 as part of the state and social ritual, civic reception at Bangabhaban and distribution of Independence Day medals were the ceremonies which would not be held this year.

He said the Covid-19 situation and the country's preparedness in combating the pandemic dominated the head of the state's hour-long meeting with the premier in the afternoon.

"Both of them urged the countrymen to be cautious instead of being panicked," Abedin said.