Capital Dhaka wears a deserted look as most of its dwellers are keeping them confined inside their respective houses due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Roads, lanes, and by-lanes, which used to remain infested with vehicles and commuters in the city, are now deserted.
Only a few transports are running with a small number of passengers.
Earlier, government ordered shutdown of educational intuitions across the country. The health minister yesterday briefed regarding their serious preparation for tackling coronavirus in the country. Housewife Rokhsana Parvin from Mohammadpur area while talking to Bangladesh Post over phone expressed home staying experience in this crisis period.
“My family members are staying since my son’s university declared closure. Without any emergency need, no one is going out,” “We are passing our idle time by talking to relatives abroad over video call, reading newspapers and watching television news.” She added. Another self-confined person from Mirpur named Shakil Sarwar, who works as representative of a Dhaka based Norwegian company, also echoed the same over phone to Bangladesh Post. “We are afraid. What’s going to happen in the upcoming few days nobody knows. If it turns out like Italy or China, we’ll not be able to control the spread of the virus. So, we are following all the precautionary measures by staying at home.”
Regarding food and other stuff, he said, “I have withdrawn money from ATM booth and bought one month’s food and groceries for my family.” A private university student Enamul Kabir Rupom told Bangladesh Post that their university will take classes online. “There’s no reason to go out. I’m expecting everything will return to normal soon. Missing my classes, teachers and normal life. Staying home with fear of getting infected by a deadly virus is new to us.”
In this regard, Dr Monowar Hossain of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said, “We all understand the fatality of the virus. But during this period, I would request our common people to remain inside their homes in this crucial time “
“Bangladesh is digital now. If it is an urgent case to contact, please talk to relatives through video call. Don’t pay a visit to your relatives. Maintain distance for overall safety. Follow the home quarantine rule which will help us all. Think humanly, don’t put your community in danger”, the doctor added.
Earlier, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) a total of 17 people are under supervision with infection of coronavirus. Till now only one person died by this virus, who reportedly suffered from several health complexities.
Yesterday, the government has temporarily banned all public gatherings, including religious and socio-cultural gatherings across the country in the face of global coronavirus outbreak. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through a video conference on Thursday afternoon gave the order as part of a preventive measure to maintain safety to avoid coronavirus infection.
The Ministry of Finance on Thursday disbursed Tk200 crore to the Ministry of Health for the management of coronavirus patients. Secretary for health services Md Asadul Islam confirmed the development to Bangladesh Post. He said they got the fund for buying the necessary equipment and logistics and setting up hospital facilities as part of their efforts to expand treatment services across Bangladesh.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque earlier said they would keep 2000-bed in different hospitals ready for coronavirus patients while Bangladesh army will develop facilities on the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi.