Education minister Dr Dipu Moni has urged people to take necessary precautions to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

"This is a matter of national importance. The government is closely monitoring all who have returned from abroad and those who have come into contact into them.  We want to make everyone safe. That's why the programmes of Mujib Year have been curtailed," she said.  She told people to limit any public gathering. She directed everyone to go home to enjoy Mujib Year programmes being shown on TV.

The minister was speaking as chief guest at Chandpur Government College on Tuesday. She formally inaugurated the memorial plaque of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a corner of the college playground at 8.30 pm.

"Chandpur Government College's foundation was formally laid by Bangabandhu's guru, Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy, in June 1946. Bangabandhu came to this college several times in connection with electioneering. But there was no memorial plaque on the college premises. The new plaque has been made to uphold  the memories of Bangabandhu on the occasion of his birth centenary," said Dipu Moni.  She appreciated the college authorities for setting up the plaque with the logo of Bangabandhu's birth centenary.

College principal Asit Baran Das, former principal Dr ASM Delwar Husain, DC Majedur Rahman Khan, police super Md Mahbubur Rahman,  District  AL vice- president Dr JR Wadud Tipu, Sadar upazila chairman Nazim Dewan, Faridganj upazila chairman Jahidul Islam Roman, Sadar upazila UNO Kanij Fatema, district Chhatra League leaders, and heads and teachers of various educational institutions were present on the occasion.