Dhaka, July 28 -- Bangladesh has registered the highest number of new coronavirus deaths within a single day amid a strict lockdown imposed to contain the surge in infections.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Tuesday said 258 new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, a new record, taking the total toll from the disease to 19,779.

The new record comes in line with health experts' warnings that the outbreak might worsen when the authorities relaxed the health restrictions for more than a week on July 13 to allow people to travel ahead of the Muslim celebration of Eid-ul-Azha.

Tens of thousands of people travelled from big cities to their home villages on crowded ferries and buses before the government reimposed t...