File photo of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Dhaka TribuneA notice signed by Registrar General Md Ali Akbar has been published on the apex court’s websiteThe Supreme Court of Bangladesh has ordered the authorities concerned not to produce prisoners and suspects before the courts for legal proceedings, amid growing safety concern due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A notice, signed by the apex court’s registrar general, Md Ali Akbar, was published on the court website on Thursday, which says producing prisoners and suspects physically before the courts is highly risky considering the current situation. "For this reason, hearing of bail petitions will be held with the detainees and the accused in jail,” the notice says. This order is effective immediately across Bangladesh, and will remain in place until further instruction, it adds. With four fresh confirmations on Thursday, the number of the novel coronavirus patients in Bangladesh now stands at 18.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 19, 2020 15:45 UTC