AT least 30 beds for as many policemen are crammed into a dorm room of about 450sqft at Mohammadpur Police Camp in the capital. The beds are not even three feet apart from each other. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, little has been done for social distancing and improving hygiene there. Meanwhile, a number of returnees from abroad started communicating with police after the PHQ issued a circular asking them report to their local police stations. Police officials are now requesting them to communicate over phone or send relatives as police officials do not have enough PPE. It is a failure of the government to provide the police with PPEs—just as they have been unable to do so for the other sector which is at the front line—the thousands of doctors and nurses who are working without PPEs.
Rather some private organsiations have to come to fill in the gaps — Pay It Forward Bangladesh, Honest, BUET Alumni Association, Rotary Club Dhaka North-West and Manush Manusher Jonno Foundation have paid Marks and Spencer Bangladesh to produce two to four lakh PPEs initially. But of course the number is too inadequate—which begs the question that if private organisations can come to fill in the gaps why can’t the government make a massive order for 20-30 lakh PPEs for our valiant healthcare professionals and others like the police who are at the firing end of the line ? The government has the resources and the ability to do so quickly–so why is the resolve lacking?
If we can spend crores for non essential things like building fancy fountains or for decorating roads definitely we can spend a couple of crores to help our doctors and nurses. If they die, who will we ask for help? Someone in the administration must realise that.
Rather some private organsiations have to come to fill in the gaps — Pay It Forward Bangladesh, Honest, BUET Alumni Association, Rotary Club Dhaka North-West and Manush Manusher Jonno Foundation have paid Marks and Spencer Bangladesh to produce two to four lakh PPEs initially. But of course the number is too inadequate—which begs the question that if private organisations can come to fill in the gaps why can’t the government make a massive order for 20-30 lakh PPEs for our valiant healthcare professionals and others like the police who are at the firing end of the line ? The government has the resources and the ability to do so quickly–so why is the resolve lacking?
If we can spend crores for non essential things like building fancy fountains or for decorating roads definitely we can spend a couple of crores to help our doctors and nurses. If they die, who will we ask for help? Someone in the administration must realise that.
