Govt set to use launches as Covid-19 'isolation centre'

TALHA BIN HABIB | Published: April 04, 2020 22:06:28

The government is set to use passenger launches as 'isolation centre' for Covid-19 patients, if needed, an official said.
"Passenger launches could be used as 'isolation centre' following the prescribed health safety guidelines to prevent the coronavirus outbreak, if the situation demands," an official of the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) told the FE on Saturday.
He said the launch owners in a meeting with State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury in the city on the day gave their consent for using passenger launches for isolation purpose, if the present coronavirus outbreak situation becomes critical.
"We (the MoS and launch owners) will take the next step (in this regard) after discussion with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," the MoS official quoted the state minister as saying.
He also said the initiative of using passenger launches as 'isolation centre' could be useful in coastal areas, where proper treatment for Covid-19 is yet to reach.
"We will also take steps for ensuring safety of the launches. We are with the water vessel workers. The government will continue providing its support to them until the situation improves," the state minister further mentioned.
The official further said the MoS will soon take a decision for assembling passenger launches as a 'designated safer place' after discussion with the Cabinet Division.
Mr Khaled Mahmud Chowdhury also distributed 200 packets of food among water vessel workers at Dhaka River Port Terminal at Sadarghat in the city on the day.
Shipping Secretary Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, director general of the Department of Shipping Commodore Syed Ariful Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Commodore Golam Sadek, and senior vice-president of Bangladesh Launch Owners' Association Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan were present, among others.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com