Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday, told the parliament that her government would put the worst hit areas by Covid-19 under lockdown to stop further spread of the lethal virus alongside taking effective measures to run the wheels of economy so none could die from starvation.
“We have decided to bring worst-hit areas by coronavirus under lockdown aimed at checking its further spread,” she said while paying glowing tributes to deceased lawmaker Mohammed Nasim and State Minister for Religious Affairs Advocate Sheikh Md Abdullah taking part in a discussion on the obituary references at the death of two veteran leaders of Awami League, reports BSS.
Mentioning that the fear arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic has reached terrible height, she said: “We couldn’t allow death of people from starvation due to the panic. We have to take measures so their lives and livelihoods can continue.”
She said that her government has been trying its best to make people understand the urgency of maintaining health codes in a proper manner to stem further spread of Covid-19 aimed at protecting them from the highly contagious virus.
Protecting people, keeping economy moving is ‘war’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said keeping away people from getting infected with coronavirus and running wheels of economy simultaneously is a 'war'.
“We have also taken steps so that economic activities could continue running, we have been able to place a budget, this is a kind of war," she said, reports UNB.
She said Covid-19 has brought the whole world to a standstill and an unnatural situation.
"The world is now under the grip of panic of death. This is very strange. We’ve never seen this kind of situation in the past," she said.
In this connection, she said while she was coming to Parliament on Sunday, many of her well-wishers requested her not to go there.
But she turned down their requests saying that she had faced bullets, bombs and grenades, and she will not sit idle out of the fear of this virus.
"This fear has clutched the whole world, developed, developing or poor countries, powerful countries in terms of arms and money, there is no difference, and all become one by this fear and panic of coronavirus. The situation is the same everywhere," she said.
The prime minister said the spread of this virus and deaths due to this started to climb high in one place, then it stopped at one stage.
"The wave of this virus has entered South Asia after travelling to western countries," she said.
She mentioned that the government is trying its best to convince the people for maintaining health guidelines properly.
"This is a deadly infectious virus, and everyone has to maintain the health guidelines to save themselves," she said.
She noted that the panic of this virus is increasing which is regrettable.
"We have decided to lockdown the particular places where the infection spread widely so that this spreading could not infect new places," she said.
Mourning Nasim and Abdullah
The prime minister recalled her memories with Mohammed Nasim and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. She termed their deaths irreplaceable loss for the country and Awami League.
Deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Firoze Rashid, Mrinal Kanti Das, Mostafa Lutfullah, and M Habibe Millat also took part in the condolence motion.
A one-minute silence was observed and a prayer was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls. Deputy Speaker M Fazle Rabbi Miah conducted the prayer.
The day’s business of Parliament was adjourned immediately after the adoption the condolence motion as per the rules of business as Mohammed Nasim was a sitting MP.