Staff Reporter :
The authorities are yet to take decision to shut the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) though the country is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases.
The trade fair’s authorities have urged all to follow health guidelines, social distancing on the fair premises but it is almost impossible to maintain the guidelines amid the huge crowds of visitors.
In this circumstance, The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 on Tuesday recommended the government shutting down the ongoing trade fair and delays the book fair to control Covid-19 infections.
Md. Iftikher Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and also Director of DITF talked the media on the matter.He said Commerce Ministry did not inform us on the issue. We are only the authority to implementation the ministry’s order. If they want to continue the trade fair, then it will continue otherwise it will stop. But I can assure you that no decision has taken to stop DITF.
Md. Iftikher Ahmed Chowdhury said there is only six days remaining of the fair. We are hardly trying to follow health guideline and hygiene to tackle coronavirus transmission. The mobile courts have been operating on the DITF area.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Division on Friday issued five-point fresh restrictions to contain the deadly virus.
The restrictions have said that more than 100 people would not be allowed at religious, political, social, and state programme, everyone must wear facemask at all public places such as at all places of worship as well as mosques, kitchen markets, shopping malls, bus stand, launch terminal, and railway stations .
Local administration and law enforcers will be constantly monitoring the situation.
NTAC President Dr Md Shahidullah told reporters that the committee suggests the government be stricter in enforcing restrictions to control the coronavirus outbreak.
He said that the current restrictions imposed by the government are okay, but these should be implemented strictly. Everyone must wear mask.
South Africa has controlled Covid infections by making mask wearing mandatory, he added.
“The Omicron variant has been transmitted at community level but we are not talking about lockdown because it is a matter of livelihood,” the NTAC president said further, adding, “Therefore, in order to prevent lockdown, public gatherings should be banned and wearing masks should be made mandatory. The trade fair should be shutdown now.”
