Bangladesh Minister dies of coronavirus

Junior Minister for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah, died on Saturday night at the Combined Military Hospital, reports Efe news.

"He was feeling chest pain and (had) breathing problems, doctors declared him dead once he reached the hospital. He died possibly on his way," his colleague, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, revealed to Efe.

"His sample was taken for coronavirus test after his death and today (Sunday) it came positive," said Chowdhury, who is the state minister for shipping.

This makes Abdullah, 75, the senior-most Bangladesh official to die from COVID-19.

Earlier on Saturday, former Health Minister Mohammed Nasim passed away at a Dhaka hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

Government spokesperson Chowdhury said Nasim, who had held the health portfolio between 2014 and 2019, was hospitalised on June 1 after having tested positive for the coronavirus. He also suffered a stroke after being admitted.

At least two other Ministers have also tested positive for the coronavirus and are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

According to the health authorities, there were 2,856 fresh cases of Covid-19 detected on Saturday, taking total to 84,379 confirmed cases, including 1,139 deaths.

Moreover, 1,003 doctors and 1,010 nurses have been found to have been infected with the highly infectious coronavirus in the country.

Bangladesh on Saturday overtook China in the total number of coronavirus cases and is now 18th on the list of most-affected nations, according to data released by John Hopkins University.

Bangladesh imposed a lockdown in the country on March 26 to check the spread of the coronavirus.

The lockdown measures were partially lifted on May 31.