Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the people to follow three health safety protocols to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
She made the call at the regular cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed newsmen after the meeting.
“Wherever we are, vaccinated or not, we should follow three protocols –wear a facemask, maintain the highest possible caution and stay in a limited number in the public places of gathering such as places of recreation or other social events,” he quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
Sheikh Hasina also said: “We do not think that we are in a comfort zone. Yes, we are in a much better position, but we cannot say with certainty that we are in a comfort zone.”
In the last few days, experts have warned not to grow complacent as the country witnessed the highest rates of Covid-19 infection in the summer.
“It is not assured that the Covid-19 infection will not peak again,” said the prime minister.
“Our peak (Covid-19 infection) was in the high summer, although all of us expected it in winter. April, May and June will be our high summer and that is why our experts have warned us to concentrate in these months,” she added.
She requested everybody to be careful from their respective positions regarding the coronavirus.
No one is fully protected with a single shot of vaccine, so all are advised to wear facemasks even after inoculation, she said.
Replying to a query about steps to encourage people to wear facemasks, the cabinet secretary said they are observing the situation and taking initiatives to raise awareness.
Regarding the decline in vaccinations, he said the Ministry of Health and Directorate General of Health Services are working for mass inoculation. Motivational work at the union and upazila levels have resumed, to make the people aware of the need to follow health protocols.
Responding to another query about the government’s next course of action if the coronavirus infection increases, the cabinet secretary said the government prioritizes the people’s lives and livelihood and will continue to do so.
He said the meeting also discussed the prices of essential commodities such as edible oil, sugar, dates, ginger, onion, lentil and chickpea ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
Khandker Anwarul Islam said the Ministry of Commerce informed the meeting that the country has sufficient stocks of these essential commodities to meet upcoming demand and there should be no shortage.
The cabinet secretary said the meeting also cleared the drafts of four bills: Kurigram Agricultural University Act, 2021, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Act, 2021, the Public Debt Act, 2021, and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2021.
