B'desh records 64 Covid deaths; opposition demands removal of Health Minister

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Dhaka, June 30 (IANS) Bangladesh has recorded 64 Covid-19 deaths and 3,682 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike, health department spokesperson Nasima Sultana said on Tuesday.

Given the spike in the number of cases in the country, demand for the removal of the Health Minister was raised in the Parliament for the second time on Tuesday afternoon, in the presence of Prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

With the single-day death toll touching a new high, Health Minister Zahid Maleque avoided his responsibility and instead blamed the media.

He said that many people are recovering from the disease, but are not getting media attention.

Meanwhile, Sunamganj lawmaker from the Opposition Jatiya Party (JP), Pir Fazlur Rahman Misbah, has placed a proposal in the Parliament to remove Health Minister Zahid Maleque. On June 23, Harunur Rashid, lawmaker from the Begum Khaleda Zia-led BNP, had also demanded the removal of the Health Minister.

Pir Fazlur Rahman said that a more competent and committed person should be appointed as the Health Minister to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. He also proposed the name of Matia Chowdhury to take over the key ministry.

Matiya is the incumbent MP and former Agriculture Minister under the Prime Ministership of Sheikh Hasina. She held the post twice before from 1996 to 2001 and 2009 to 2013 during the previous tenures of the Awami League.

On June 23, BNP MP Harunur Rashid had demanded the removal of Zahid Maleque while participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for 2020-21 fiscal year.

Bangladesh had confirmed the first coronavirus death on March 18, 10 days after the detection of the first Covid-19 case.

--IANS

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