FEARING a possible scarcity of protective equipments amid the ongoing pandemic, the Home Ministry suggested strict vigilance and monitoring on production, supply, import and marketing of such items. The Ministry recommended the pharmaceutical companies to produce and market such protective items as per their capacity. It also advised the Commerce Ministry to ask the local administration, district police and drug administration for keeping a close watch and conducting mobile courts regularly so that the prices of safety items remain stable in the market.
At present, counterfeit or substandard protective gear has been selling in the market in the absence of proper legal steps. Low-quality masks are being marketed at cheaper prices and these are not effective in fighting Covid-19. The prices of health safety items have increased many times. Currently, per piece normal mask is being sold for Tk 25-40 at the retail level. Before the outbreak of Covid-19, it was only Tk 5-10. Besides, unscrupulous traders have been selling N-95 mask extortionately. It is now selling at Tk 400-2000 per piece. Over 14 apparel units are producing masks in the country. Besides, some small firms are manufacturing the product. Currently, the liquid item is not available in the market.
Law enforcement agencies have taken legal actions against several firms on production facilities and inventories of counterfeit safety kits that are imperiling the lives of Covid-19 patients and frontline health workers alike. As the demand for such safety gear and use has increased significantly, the prices of these items have risen and caused a shortage in the market. The BGMEA and BKMEA can take responsibilities to produce PPE, masks on a large scale. Earlier, health workers in several hospitals declined to perform the duty for substandard PPE, masks, and safety gears. Despite 41 physicians died of Covid-19 and -like symptoms, the government failed to provide standard safety gears for the frontline soldiers. The pandemic is taking our capacity to face the crisis, and we can say the government is failed in protecting life and livelihood of many.
