In the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak worldwide, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 22nd March, 2020 urging the government to take effective measures.
“We are highly tensed and worried over the news that coronavirus is spreading alarmingly in Bangladesh. There is a huge scarcity of kits to test and diagnosis coronavirus. Initiatives must be taken to make such kits and other necessary accessories available. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure sufficient amount of testing kits. The government also has the responsibility to ensure safety and protection of all doctors, nurses, other healthcare staffs, law enforcers and of the military personnel who are discharging duties in quarantines. Otherwise, they will suffer from severe health risk and probability chance for further infection will be increased as well.
The government miserably failed to test corona infection and other health check ups of all the passengers who came from abroad. Even the direction of the World Health Organization was not complied as well. Each of such passengers was supposed to remain in quarantine for 14 days, but even such instruction was not followed. There is allegation that these passengers did not stay in quarantine and subsequently roamed across their native areas. These situations have multiplied the risk of spreading coronavirus infection further. If the government could force them to stay within quarantine, it would be easier then to tackle the present situation. The government cannot avoid and avert their liabilities behind this situation. While our surrounding countries are imposing absolute lockdown, our government should be more alert to shut down all the borders and frontier areas with the neighboring countries.
We also need a broad base unity between the government, administration, social organization and the general masses. There is no alternative but taking a unified action plan.
According to the information of IEDCR, in last 55 days, 600,024 people returned home from various countries. Whereas only 15,172 people are remaining in quarantine. Rest of the people are living with their family normally without any specific test. Coronavirus is very infectious. As such, these people have kept themselves within risk and simultaneously created a major risk for their family, society and the countrymen.
I am urging the concerned authorities to ensure 14 days quarantine for all home-bound passengers, to supply adequate kits for coronavirus test and also to undertake immediate effective measures for ensuring safety and protection of all doctors, nurses, other healthcare staffs.”
