The government has banned tourist gatherings in the Sundarbans amid growing concern over global coronavirus outbreak.

Khulna divisional forest conservator Md Moinuddin Khan said tourism has been banned in the Sunderbans and other ecotourism spots under the Forest Department until further notice.

On Wednesday, tourism was banned in all tourist spots in Rangamati to prevent spread of the deadly virus.

The death toll from coronavirus or Covid-19 reached 8,967 globally on Thursday.

It has so far infected 219,240 people around the world, according to worldometer.

Bangladesh announced its first coronavirus death on Wednesday. Three more people tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, taking the number of patients to 17 in the country.

BK