Awami League General SecretaryObaidul Quader on Thursday called upon the country’s people to accept their temporary sufferings during the strict lockdown enforced from this morning to contain coronavirus infections.
He made the call while speaking at a press briefing on contemporary issues at his official residence in Dhaka.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said since the coronavirus infection reached an alarming level, the government has decided to impose the lockdown as per the advice of experts.
“This lockdown is urgent for protecting lives,” he added.
Urging the private and charitable organisations and affluent people to come forward to help the destitute and jobless people during the lockdown, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been leading the country in various calamities and crises, and she always takes the right decisions to this end.
Last Sunday, Tk23.06 crore was allocated by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to provide assistance to the poor, destitute and unemployed people in 64 districts who have been affected by the ongoing lockdown.
Residents of Dhaka woke up to a deserted capital city on Thursday morning as the country entered the stringent week-long lockdown with different security agencies patrolling the roads.
The complete lockdown, which aims to mitigate the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths over the past few weeks, will continue till July 7 midnight.
Army personnel were seen patrolling many areas in different districts alongside other law enforcement agencies, while police set up barricades and check-posts at important points to monitor the movement of people and vehicles.
The health authorities also resumed the mass Covid-19 vaccination program across Bangladesh on Thursday, which will continue amid the lockdown.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh had recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in a day – 8,822 – since March last year, taking the total number of infections to 913,258.
At the same time, 115 Covid-19 patients also died around the country, taking the death toll to 14,503.
