Shahariar Islam Sovon :
Bangladesh is once again grappling with growing concerns over a resurgence of Covid-19, as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise across the country.
Alarming reports of inadequate health screening at border entry points have further heightened fears of a potential outbreak, particularly in light of new, highly transmissible variants emerging in neighbouring India.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the past fortnight has witnessed a noticeable increase in daily infections, especially in major urban centres such as Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. Health officials have attributed the majority of these new cases to a highly contagious sub-variant of the Omicron strain.
Since the onset of the pandemic, the country’s total number of confirmed cases has reached 2,021,747. Fortunately, no new fatalities have been reported in the recent surge, keeping the official death toll at 29,500.
The DGHS reported that 41 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, with a daily test positivity rate of 12.20 per cent.
Meanwhile, the national recovery rate remains steady at 98.42 per cent, and the overall case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent.
Dr Kasedul Islam Nayan, a public health expert, told The New Nation: “We are closely monitoring the situation. While the overall case numbers are still relatively low compared to previous waves, the current upward trend is concerning. Precautionary measures are essential.”
Hospitals and clinics have reported a slight increase in patients exhibiting COVID-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue.
Although most of the recent infections appear to be mild, health officials have expressed concern about the potential impact on vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
In response to the developing situation, the Ministry of Health has urged the public to observe basic health protocols, such as wearing face masks in crowded areas, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding unnecessary gatherings.
Authorities are also considering reinstating testing booths at major transport hubs and strengthening health screenings at international airports.
Educational institutions and workplaces have been advised to remain vigilant, though no decisions have yet been taken regarding closures or a return to hybrid operations.
Despite official directives mandating strict screening at all entry points – including land, river, and air ports-eyewitnesses and local sources from Barishal, Patuakhali, Sylhet, Khulna, Dinajpur, and Jessore report that passport holders have been entering through the Hili land port in Dinajpur without undergoing health checks.
These include temperature screenings, health questionnaires, or visible enforcement of Covid-19 protocols.
This lapse contradicts the nationwide alert previously issued by the DGHS in response to the surge in India, which called for robust preventive measures, including thermal scanning, mandatory mask use, and isolation protocols for symptomatic travellers.
“There are clear instructions, but no one is monitoring them here,” a local health worker at Hili immigration checkpoint said on condition of anonymity. “People are just walking through, unchecked.”
Public health experts have warned that such negligence could facilitate the spread of the virus, particularly given the porous nature of the border and the frequency of cross-border movement for trade and family visits.
Vaccination remains a key focus for health authorities. “Those who have not yet received their booster dose should do so immediately,” said Dr Sabina Yasmin, an epidemiologist at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). “Vaccination is still our strongest defence against severe illness.”
The government has also urged the public to cooperate fully, avoid misinformation, and rely on official sources for updates.
As Bangladesh remains on alert, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the current rise in infections can be contained – or if stricter interventions will be needed to prevent another widespread outbreak.
