DHAKA – Seventeen top Bangladeshi cricketers have donated half
of their monthly salary to help the fight against the novel
coronavirus outbreak, which has killed at least five people in the
South Asian country.
The cricketers created a fund of 3 million takas (35,400 dollars) to
be donated to the government to treat the Civid-19 patients,
Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh's former captain, said on Wednesday.
"This amount is not enough to win the battle. We will able to win the
fight only if more people come forward with their contributions,"
Rahim said in a Facebook post, calling people from all walks to come
together during this difficult time.
Bangladeshi cricketers' monthly salary is not uniform. They draw the
amount based on their grades or based on contracts.
With one more death reported on Wednesday, Bangladesh's Covid-19
death toll is now at five, said Meerjady Sabrina Flora, the
spokesperson for the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and
Research.
But no new case of infection was detected as the institute tested 82
samples in the 24 hours through to Wednesday morning.
The country has a total of 39 cases of novel coronavirus.
Bangladesh, which reported its first coronavirus death on March 18,
shut schools, private and public offices until April 4 to help
prevent the spread of the deadly virus. A nationwide transport ban
will begin on Thursday.