Talkative ministers and the harsh reality

THE carelessness of the returnees from abroad over following self-quarantine rules is putting their family members and relatives at risk of contracting Coronavirus. As many as 24 people got infected with Covid-19 and two patients died in the country since March 7. So far, 44 people have been placed in institutional quarantine and 30 in isolation at hospitals. Ironically, the local administrations across the country haven’t traced the expatriates who have returned home recently. For instance, about 10,303 people have returned to Barishal division from abroad this month so far. Of them, only 764 were traced by the health department and forced into self-quarantine. The authorities of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have now started stamping quarantine information on the inbound passengers. The seal with unerasable ink bears the date until when they will have to be in home quarantine. The DGHS has issued letters to its divisional directors, district civil surgeons and upazila health and family planning officers, directing them to take legal actions through operating mobile courts to monitor self-quarantine and tackle the spread of coronavirus.
Under the Infectious Disease (prevention, control and elimination) Act, 2018, they can hand out punishments of six-month imprisonment or a fine of Tk 1 lakh or both to those concealing information about any infectious disease. Besides, if anyone refuses to follow instructions or obstruct officials from carrying out their duties, the offenders can be sentenced to imprisonment for more than three months or fined Tk 50,000 or handed both the punishments. But what’s a matter of sorrow is that — when the first world leaders despite their high-end healthcare facilities are stumbling and taking preparations to tackle the pandemic, our mindless ministers including those of the foreign, finance, road transport, health, and shipping ministeries have started flattering Sheikh Hasina for their own benefit. When the physicians are at the forefront of great risk due to shortage of protective gears and hospital facilities, the government is propagating its high preparedness in the name of facing the calamity. It’s nothing but a big lie.
The people are really living in fear sensing an upcoming pandemic when the government without taking minimum preparation is expressing satisfaction just to cool down the people.