UNB, Dhaka :
Experts think that the ongoing lockdown in Bangladesh appears to be paying off as both the active coronavirus cases and death toll have marked a sharp fall over the last few days in the country.
They, however, fear that the benefits might be short-lived ones as the government has allowed shopping malls to reopen and is thinking of resuming public transport services soon though the virus is yet to come under control.
The analysts warned that the Covid situation is likely to worsen again with the hordes of shoppers and holidaymakers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals of Muslims to be celebrated in the middle of this month.
They advised the government to announce a stimulus package for the transport workers instead of resuming transport service, enforce the law to make people to wear masks and maintain health safety rules and increase vigilance along the border to check any possible trespassing or illegal entry to Bangladesh from India to maintain the improved trend in the Covid situation.
The government imposed a complete countrywide lockdown on April 14 for a week to tackle the worsening Covid situation, and later it was extended up to May 5. But the government gave permission for reopening shops and malls across the country from April 25 amid lockdown.
Bangladesh’s health authorities reported 69 more deaths and 1,359 new
cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning. The virus infection rate that increased to 23 percent early last month has now dropped to 9.60 percent on Sunday. Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director (disease control) of the DGHS, said the fall in the number of Covid cases and deaths has manifested that the ongoing lockdown has proved to be good.
“As the offices and mass transport service remains shut, people’s movement has declined, contributing to reducing the virus transmission,” he said
“But we can’t still say whether we’re getting rid of the second wave of the virus soon. We can only say the lockdown has proved effective in containing the virus,” the expert observed.
Professor Dr Mohammed Atiqur Rahman, treasurer at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said it seems the coronavirus situation is coming under control due to the lockdown.
“As we’re allowing people to go to shopping malls and thinking of resuming public transport, the virus infection may spike again after the eid. So, we should remain aware of the situation as public apathy to health safety rules will only invite danger again,” he warned.
“The virus infection rate declined significantly in India early this year. As the country allowed different political, religious and social gatherings later, the virus surged again and it’s now out of control,” Dr Atiq reminded.
Public health expert MH Chowdhury (Lenin), chairman of the medicine department at the Health and Hope Hospital, said the positive impact of the lockdown is now visible as both the virus infection and fatality rates have dropped.
Lockdown needs to be extended further
Dr Be-Nazir said the benefits of the lockdown may not be sustainable if the government ease it after May 5. “I think the lockdown should continue until the eid keeping the public transport suspended.”
He said those who live in different cities, including Dhaka, used to go back to their village homes crowding the public transports before and during the eid. It’s a matter of concern. So, the government shouldn’t allow resuming the public transport before the eid to contain the spread of the virus.”
