Educational institutions to remain closed till March 31

The government has taken decision to keep all the educational institutions closed from March 17 to 31 as a precautionary measure to coronavirus.

The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in chair.

"The government has taken the decision due to the growing concern over coronavirus," Education Minister Dipu Moni said during a briefing at the Secretariat.

The minister also urged the students to stay at homes during this period.

Besides, Dhaka University will remain closed from March 18 to 28, said its Vice Chancellor Akhtaruzzaman.

So far eight Bangladeshis were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, which believed to be started spreading from China. Three of them have been completely cured and two are in good condition. Three new cases of coronavirus was detected today.

Earlier on March 14, the government suspended on-arrival visas for all countries and banned flights carrying passengers from all European countries, except the United Kingdom, for two weeks in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.

About 169,000 people around the world have been infected with the deadly virus and 6,512 deaths were reportedly globally till date.