It is concerning to see that, just as we seemed to be slowly recovering from our spike in Covid-19 cases that had prompted lockdowns, the government, from today, has allowed the opening of stores, shops, and shopping malls.
Moreover, the government also plans to ease travel restrictions from Wednesday, which all points to lockdown measures ending in the country, and according to health experts, this may be a premature decision that requires a more nuanced approach.
Of course, there is no questioning the devastating economic impact of lockdowns and how it affects the daily livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. To that end, especially with Eid coming up, we can sympathize with the government’s decision, having to also keep an eye towards the economy and people’s sentiments.
However, it is the wholesale lifting of the restrictions that has the experts worried, and there is legitimate fear that this may undo all the positives achieved from the previous lockdowns. To that end, easing of restriction in phases, together with having a measured approach to opening malls and other enclosed public spaces, would be prudent.
It has previously been proven that enclosed spaces for public gatherings such as shopping malls, together with public transport, are where people are most susceptible to be infected. There is real risk, particularly with new variants of the virus such as the one in India, that Bangladesh could experience a worse situation than it did in April if it fails to take the correct measures.
With the painful reality that we simply lack the necessary medical facilities -- namely ICU beds -- to take in more patients, the last thing we need is aggravating an already dire predicament.