国际英语新闻:Bangladesh's educational institutions to remain closed till Jan. 16 amid COVID-19

DHAKA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh Friday again extended the closure time of educational institutions, except madrasas (Islamic religious schools), following a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the current cold weather.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Education said in a statement that the government extended the closure of all educational institutions till Jan. 16 next year.

Previously the closure was extended in phases till Dec. 19.

Bangladeshi Education Minister Dipu Moni had earlier said that the country's entire COVID-19 situation is not favorable for reopening educational institutions.

Bangladesh on March 16 first announced to close all the educational institutions in the country from March 17 in an effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19.

Since March 8, the virus has spread to nearly every Bangladeshi district and the total number rose to 498,293 with 7,217 deaths so far.