While it is encouraging to note that the rate of infection has stabilized and is on the decline by many accounts in Dhaka, it is unsurprising to note that the coronavirus infection rate is surging in other parts of the country, especially in Khulna and Rajshahi.
In many parts of Bangladesh, the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is as much as 20 times higher now as it was in June -- a most worrisome trend that must be tackled and resolved before the infection rate goes out of hand and beyond our control.
This is just another example of how our centralized approach is harming the nation, with the capital receiving most of the attention and, subsequently, most of the resources necessary to battle the spread of the coronavirus.
We must decentralize our efforts immediately -- if not, millions of people’s lives will be put at risk and lead to more deaths and suffering for those who are living outside of the capital.
Even in Dhaka, the numbers must be taken with a grain of salt -- our testing rate is nowhere near enough to provide us with an accurate estimation of the number of people affected by coronavirus, a situation worsened by widespread corruption and misinformation which have led to the existence of false tests, certificates, and treatments.
One can only imagine that the situation is much worse in the rest of the country and steps must be taken to ensure that cities and villages outside of the capital are provided with the resources necessary to battle the spread of Covid-19.
Preparation will remain key in the upcoming months if Bangladesh is to have any chance of curbing the spread and returning to a sustainable sense of normalcy.
