The admission test for medical colleges held on Friday across the country amid widespread violation of health safety rules outside many exam centres risking more transmission of coronavirus for non-maintenance of social distancing. Hours before the test began at 55 centres, admission seekers and their guardians gathered in large numbers outside those. They were seen standing or sitting close to each other, oblivious of the requirement of social distancing when the Covid-19 disease is maintaining an upsurge in Bangladesh. The examinees complained about insufficient sanitisation arrangements at the entrances of the centres, although the government had assured maintenance of social distancing and health guidelines during the test.
More worryingly, some guardians did not even wear masks that could fuel a jump in coronavirus transmission. The health minister insisted that the MBBS admission test would be taken by complying with health guidelines. But there was a huge traffic jam in front of the Dhaka College centre since 8:00 am on Friday due to the presence of examinees and their guardians. A huge gathering was seen in front of the Teachers Training College and Government Laboratory High School centres, which are close in proximity to each other. When all exams are postponed due to the new surge in Covid-19, the health ministry itself took the admission test giving a wrong signal which might encourage people to breach the health regulations.
What the health ministry demonstrated by arranging the admission test in a crowded environment that carried high risks of spread of the virus only reflected the government’s incompetence to know how to save people from deaths from the pandemic. The government cannot announce lockdown and at the same time organise events that fall short of health guidelines. On the other hand, there is a lack of coordination in preparing dedicated hospitals and equipping those with necessary staff, life-saving oxygen, and drugs to deal with the heavy rush of patients. The insensitive bureaucratic government can only be efficient in abusing power and exploiting the people. Without the vital role played by economic sector despite the wrong headed policies of the government, the situation would have much worse.
It is significant that the international weekly ‘The Economist’ has pointed out that Bangladesh has done well in economic progress over the 50 years despite the politicians. The truth is our politicians are non-existent and uninvolved in political affairs of the country. The atmosphere for the role of politicians has long been finished by politicians themselves. Now we have businessmen politicians for making money not good for running the government.
