Madaripur's Shibchar locked down

Shibchar sub-district in south-western Madaripur district has been locked down to help check further spread of coronavirus infection in the area.

However, shops selling essential drugs, perishable goods and grocery items will remain outside the purview of the lockdown.

The Shibchar upazila administration declared the shutdown on Thursday evening at an emergency briefing there. It came into effect from 7:00 pm.

Mr Asad called upon the expatriates, who have recently returned to the area, to stay in their respective homes for safety reason.

Anyone flouting the home quarantine regulations will be forcefully transferred to Nanda Kumar Institution for quarantine, he warned.

Earlier in the day, health minister Zahid Maleque said the government might lock down the most vulnerable areas like Madaripur and Faridpur if the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

"We've information that Faridpur, Madaripur and Shibchar areas have the high prevalence of coronavirus. If the situation worsens, we'll lock down those areas."

Mr Maleque said this to the media about the current coronavirus situation in the conference room of his ministry.

"I think lockdown is the only way to control the coronavirus spread," he said.

The minister said more than 5,000 people across the country have been tested in the last 24 hours for coronavirus infection.

The government is trying to collect more than 0.1 million testing kits for COVID-19 detection.

Mr Maleque said the government has already identified several hospitals in Dhaka city to treat corona cases.

The 200-bed Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hospital at Uttara is providing treatment to COVID-19 patients.

"We're also preparing 2,000 more beds to ease the crisis," the minister mentioned.

He said the government has prepared ijtema ground at Tongi to quarantine people and treat coronavirus cases.

"We'll quarantine people and provide them necessary treatment at Ijtema ground if the situation worsens. The ground will remain under the army's supervision."

Mr Maleque urged expats not to come to Bangladesh for the time being in the best interests of the country and their families.

He also asked people to abide by the IEDCR directives.

The minister called for journalists not to publish any exaggerated reports on coronavirus which may create panic among people.

To tackle the ravaging trend of coronavirus, health ministry has cancelled leave of its officials.

Shibchar upazila nirbahi officer Mohammad Asaduzzaman at the emergency press briefing said public transport will remain suspended until further notice.

Shibchar is now highly vulnerable to the transmission of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, he added.

UNB adds: The government has imposed a restriction on all kinds of political, social, cultural and religious gatherings in an effort to contain the further spread of novel coronavirus in the country.

Besides, people having fever, cough, influenza or other symptoms of Covid-19 as well as family members of coronavirus-infected patients and those come in contact with the patients have been asked not to go to mosques and other worship places.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus announced the decisions while addressing high and field-level government officials through videoconferencing.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam along with other secretaries and inspector general of police (IGP) joined the videoconference from the Secretariat while Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and PMO Secretary were with Ahmad Kaikaus at the Prime Minister's Office.

All divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners were connected with the videoconference. Deputy inspectors general (DIGs) of police were with the divisional commissioners while superintendents of police (SPs) and civil surgeons were with the DCs at the time.

"All sorts of political, social, cultural and religious gatherings have been banned. You must ensure it," the principal secretary said pointing at the field-level administration.

About the operation of public transport, Ahmad Kaikaus said the government has not yet taken any decision in this regard. "Rather, people with fever, cough and influenza have been advised to avoid public transport. Even transport workers having such symptoms have been advised to refrain from work."

He, however, said the government's policy is not to enforce any lockdown, rather to take measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The principal secretary asked the field-level administration to strictly enforce the home-quarantine rules to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 in the country. "Take strict legal action if anyone violates the home-quarantine rules," he said, asking them to step up their surveillance to this end.

Noting that lists of those who returned home from aboard in the last three months have been prepared, he said district-wise lists were sent to every district on Thursday to help intensify the surveillance and take legal actions in case of violation of the rules.

The Cabinet Secretary asked the local administration to punish those who will violate the home-quarantine rules as per section 269 of the Penal Code.

According to the section 269 of the Penal Code, whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both, he said.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com