Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government-declared holiday to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 might be extended till April 9.
“We`ve announced a 10-day holiday, but this might be extended for 14 days. We might extend it till April 9 with some relaxation for some sectors on limited basis,“ she said.
The Prime Minister said this while holding a video conference with the officials of 64 districts to coordinate the ongoing activities to contain coronavirus from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The government on March 23 declared general holidays from March 26 to April 4. The government announced holidays for five days from March 29 to April 2. March 26 was a public holiday on the occasion of Independence Day, while March 27 and 28, and April 3 and 4 are weekends that merged with the five-day holiday.
But kitchen markets, food shops, pharmacies, hospitals and all emergency services are out of the purview of the general holidays.
The Prime Minister said the holiday may be extended because many people went to their villages.
“We`ve to count the quarantine period in this connection so that there should not be any outbreak of COVID-19,“ she said.
She also said that with that extension of holidays the communication system has to be open on limited basis.
“We`ve to think before declaring those relaxed sectors from the purview of the holiday,“ she said.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken its steps to prevent spreading of COVID-19 from the very beginning and for that reason there has not been many cases in the country.
“We’ve to look after the matter so that this COVID-19 could not break out in the country in future. We`ve to continue this (holidays) and take this sufferings for some days more,“ she said.
In this connection, she said the extension of holidays will be done to ensure that there will be no more death from COVID-19.
Bangladesh has so far confirmed five coronavirus deaths and 49 cases.
“We`re taking this decision for the welfare of all,“ she said.
She, however, said that offices would remain open in limited way. “I`ll look in to this matter what we can do regarding this. We’ll take steps so that the ways of income of the people remain open,“ she said.
Sheikh Hasina said it would be inhumane if anyone hikes the price of essential commodities taking the chance of people’s sufferings.
“We`ve to maintain the supply side so that the prices of essentials remain stable and keep within the commoners reach. We’ve to ensure that,“ she said.
The Prime Minister also directed not to hold any public programmes marking the upcoming Pahela Boishakh (Bangla New Year).
She said the people usually hold huge celebrations marking Pahela Boishakh. “As we’ve cancelled all programmes that attracts huge number of people, I’ll request all to stop Pahela Boishakh celebration programmes with huge gatherings for the sake of the people’s welfare,“ she said.
In this connection, she suggested to hold the celebration programmes digitally for avoiding public programmes to mark the festival and people can watch those programmes digitally.
She said that it was painful for her to shut Pahela Boishakh programme. “We started this programme defying all odds, and today we`ve to stop that too, but will have to do for the sake of public interest,“ she said.
In this connection she said the government is televising class lecturers through Sangsad Television for the sake of students.
Regarding the PPE, the Prime Minister said only the doctors and other related people who are serving the COVID-19 infected patients will use PPE. “There’s no need to wear PPE for others,“ she said. —- UNB, Dhaka.
