Elected public representatives have recently expressed their deep concern over the arrangement of makeshift markets of sacrificial animals across the country and the movement of homebound people during the oncoming Eid-ul-Azha, both of which may contribute greatly to worsen the pandemic situation, at a discussion styled “Public Health and the Local Government” held on Saturday night and organised by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the ruling party’s research wing.
Under such a circumstance, they have urged the Prime Minister and also the policymakers of the government to take necessary measures to keep transmission of the deadly virus under control.
Coordinated by Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, the meeting was attended, among others, by Md Tajul Islam, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Nur Taposh, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Iqramul Huq Titu.
After the meeting, RCC Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton said they took part in the meeting to discuss the probable dangerous situation that the country may have to face during the Eid-ul-Azha because of cattle markets and flow of homebound people.
“It is a common phenomenon that many members of a single family, like father, sons and other members, like to go to the cattle markets together. Such crowd will increase the risk of infection and transmission in the cattle markets”, said the RCC Mayor.
“Meanwhile thousands of people will go to their village homes to celebrate Eid and after a few days they will return to their workplaces”, he added.
Replying to a query, the RCC Mayor said at the meeting they proposed the arrangement of makeshift cattle markets on a limited scale and urged the LGRD minister to take alternative measures after necessary discussion with the premier so that transmission of the virus could be controlled.
However, LGRD Minister Tajul Islam assured everyone present at the meeting that the government has been working continuously to keep the situation under control.
“We have already held a meeting in this regard earlier on Thursday and more meetings are to be held before the Eid”, he said while adding that various initiatives are being taken to make people aware of the situation as well as to make them cautious.
Earlier on Thursday, the government high-ups also expressed their concern over the implementation of health guidelines in the makeshift cattle markets across the country.
Officials of different departments said maintaining social distance is the biggest challenge as the markets are usually overcrowded due to inadequate space, especially in Dhaka.
Although wearing a mask is mandatory, many people are seen carrying masks and only wearing them when asked by the law enforcement officials. So, ensuring that everyone is wearing a mask in the cattle markets is another big challenge.
Arranging enough hand washing facilities, setting up disinfection tunnels and checking the temperature of people who will gather from all parts of the country will be very difficult as the temporary cattle markets are set up in a haphazard manner.
Even before sorting out all these problems and mapping out proper plans, two city corporations in Dhaka have already floated tenders separately last week to set up 24 temporary cattle markets. DSCC and DNCC will sanction 14 and 10 cattle markets respectively.
Health experts opine that Bangladesh has hardly seen proper implementation of health guidelines since the announcement of ‘general holidays’ across the country. If the government allows cattle markets now, it could create a disastrous situation for the country as Covid-19 is highly contagious.
