The Bangladesh government’s decision to extend the restrictions on the movement of passengers with India and keep borders closed is the only rational move at this point in time.
Credit must be given to the authorities concerned for recognizing that, as Bangladesh faces its own share of trouble in dealing with the effects of the second wave of Covid-19, it would be catastrophic if the Indian variant were to become widespread in Bangladesh.
Already, we have witnessed the scale of the devastation in India; daily deaths over 4,000 have now been a regular occurrence in the country over the past few weeks.
As such, while we must show solidarity and support to our neighbouring country as best as we are able to, we must take care of our own population.
Seeing India’s health care sector utterly helpless in the wake of its second wave, with people unable to get access to oxygen and ICU beds and losing their lives, there is not much hope for our own health care system -- which was already severely struggling in the wake of our second wave -- if we were to experience what India is currently going through.
Therefore, while it is not clear that the extension to keeping the borders shut will be sufficient in keeping the virus at bay, as trade with India is inevitable and continues, it is necessary to take all the possible measures to minimize the chances. We simply cannot afford the Covid situation in Bangladesh to mirror what it currently is in India
