The Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh is out of control due to the ruling government’s negligence, poor decision-making and corruption, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged at a virtual press conference on Monday.
The BNP leader also called for the government to resign for failing to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people during the pandemic period.
Prior to the virtual press conference, a meeting of BNP’s national standing committee was held on Saturday.
“We talked a lot about the coronavirus situation at the meeting. We think the number of infections and deaths are increasing because of the government’s failure to take timely action,” Fakhrul said at the press conference.
He also claimed the government ignored the advice of experts and the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 by delaying the lockdown announcement.
“Involvement of private traders in the collection and import of Covid-19 vaccines and the lack of a well-planned strategy have made vaccination uncertain. The prime minister has admitted that advance payment has been made to the Serum Institute of India through a private importer for 30 million doses. However, we have learned through the news that as India has stopped exporting vaccines, and it is now completely uncertain when Bangladesh will receive the doses,” Fakhrul claimed.
“The situation is now becoming a serious threat to human life and national security due to the lack of accountability at any level of government and corruption in the health department and ministry,” the BNP secretary general added, claiming patients were being denied treatment due to inadequate health facilities.
BNP demanded that the government provide cash aid and incentives to day labourers and small traders during the ongoing strict lockdown.
The party also demanded the release of imprisoned Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh leaders and activists, alleging that the government was torturing them.