We have editorialized before on how, with the coronavirus pandemic nowhere near under control in Bangladesh, setting up cattle markets would be disastrous for controlling the rate of infection.
This is a sentiment echoed by experts, who have rightly pointed out that these cattle markets could potentially become coronavirus clusters which completely negate whatever work we have done so far to ensure that the pandemic remains within our control.
However, it seems that cattle markets will be established regardless, and, in that instance, the authorities must ensure, at all costs, that the worst does not happen.
The government has already issued health guidelines and Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has provided us with the assurance that these guidelines will be strictly enforced at these cattle markets.
While we appreciate the assurance, only time will tell whether such strictness will persevere in the coming week.
With there being only 16 such markets in Dhaka this time round, this should not be a gargantuan task for the police -- law enforcement personnel must be present at each of these markets to ensure absolute compliance to health directives, such as maintaining social distance, preventing people without face-masks from entering, and checking for symptoms of Covid-19 amongst those present, customers and sellers alike.
The setting up of these cattle markets are already a risk in its own right and, as such, we cannot afford to show further laxity, especially as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise in the country.
