Bangladesh govt adopts mixed method to tackle second wave of Covid-19

The government has decided to follow a mixed method to curb the second wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.

To that end, guidelines have been finalized by the government based on the suggestions from field offices as they are the ones who will execute the decision.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque said: “We have already prepared guidelines for tackling the second wave. We are optimistic that we will be able to deal with the second wave better as we are equipped and experienced now.”

The minister was speaking at a meeting held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare last week.

The Cabinet Division has already ordered the departments concerned and field offices to finalize individual action plans according to the guidelines to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus.

According to the Dhaka Divisional Office, the individual action plan is underway, and might be finalized within two or three days.  

What is a mixed method?

The government will be strict in many cases to execute action plans prepared by different departments and divisional commissioners’ offices. 

However, the overall instruction is to build awareness among people instead of imposing fines on them.  

Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said: “The government can be strict in many cases to curb the coronavirus. We are also thinking of increasing the amount of the fine from Tk500 to Tk5,000.”

At the same time, the government will emphasize a social awareness building campaign to tackle the second wave.

The government has already declared a “no mask, no service” or “wear mask, get service” campaign to make people aware ahead of the second wave of Covid-19.

“Our target is to ensure a wearing of masks in all offices. We will supply sufficient numbers of masks to all [government] offices. If anyone comes without a mask, officials will provide him or her with a mask. However, if the same person comes another day without a mask, he or she will not get service,” said Mustafizur Rahman, Dhaka divisional commissioner.  

As per the plan, government bodies along with the political forces will carry out the campaign at public places to make people aware about Covid-19. 

Local government authorities like city corporations will be included in the process.

At the same time, fining people for not wearing masks will continue.

Mobile courts have already fined more than a thousand people for not wearing masks. On Sunday, mobile courts operated at 37 places in Dhaka.

“The magistrates have also directed the authorities to carry sufficient masks while conducting mobile courts for distribution among the poor. And if solvent people are found without masks they will be fined,” said Mustafizur Rahman.

According to the cabinet division, the government will not allow picnics and gatherings at recreation centers during the second wave.

Meanwhile, all the entry points of the country, including airports and land ports, will be strict in case of mobility and screening. Additionally, a 14-day quarantine is a must for all inbound passengers.