Quick steps needed to stop fresh Covid surge: PM

UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she wants quick steps to fight the fresh surge of Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.
“A fresh surge of Coronavirus is visible. Different variants of this virus have come here. So, we’ll have to take prompt steps as we did in the past,” she said while addressing a virtual discussion.
Bangladesh Awami League arranged the discussion at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office, marking the Independence Day.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, presided over the discussion, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Prime Minister said health protection guidelines and safe physical distance will have to be maintained in every programme like seminar, training, workshop and other programmes. “All should use face masks. All must ensure it (masking up),” she said.
The AL chief asked leaders and workers of AL and its associate bodies to stand beside people during the Covid-19’s second blow as they did during last time.
“We see another Coronavirus blow is coming,” she said adding that they, being members of a party founded by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, have huge responsibility towards people.
Turning to food production, Sheikh Hasina renewed her call to all concerned not to keep even an inch of land uncultivated in the country.
“We still don’t know when the coronavirus will go. But we’ll have to have preparations for it so that people do not suffer from food crisis. [in the case good production] we can help other countries, if necessary,” she said.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader made the opening remarks at the discussion programme, while AL presidium members Dr Abdur Razzaque and Abdur Rahman, organising secretary SM Kamal Hossain, cultural affairs secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, international affairs secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed, central committee’s member Prof Marina Jahan, Dhaka Uttar AL general secretary SM Mannan Kachi and Dhaka South AL general secretary Humayan Kabir spoke at the occasion.
AL publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the discussion.
Assuring that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will continue, the Prime Minister said it is the duty of the government to protect public health and save the lives of people. “Prime Minister Modi is giving us more vaccines doses as gift. We’ll also get the vaccine doses we’ve procured,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh witnessed an impressive progress in the last 12 years and this has been possible as the government is running the country with an ideology which had been achieved through the Independence and given by the Father of the Nation.
Talking about the recent 10-day festival marking the Golden Jubilee of the Independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation, Sheikh Hasina said every programme was held in limited way, but it was virtually aired so that health guidelines are not violated in any way.
Almost all the countries of the world and 27 international organisations, including the United Nations and OIC sent congratulatory messages to Bangladesh on the occasion of the celebration.
The PM said Bangladesh has been maintaining the relations with all the countries following the foreign policy formulated by Bangabandhu that Friendship to All and Malice towards None.
“Even Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also sent congratulatory message on March 26, which means no one is left in any region, which didn’t send congratulatory message to Bangladesh. So, it was a success,” she said.
The AL President asked the party leaders and workers to project the messages before people up to the grassroots level as many messages could not be heard during the festival held from 17 to 26 March.
About educational institutions, the Prime Minister said the government will reopen schools, colleges and other institutions after Eid-ul Fitr.