Capital Dhaka gets back its own look as most of its roads, lanes, by-lanes, shops, shopping malls, kitchen markets and other places have been filled with people amid lockdown.
The shops have reopened, as a result, it would be difficult to contain the virus from spreading far and wide before this Eid.
Concerned people feel curfew is essential action to save more lives in order to battle against corona virus in the capital.
Experts believe that a task force needed to be formed in each ward of the two city corporations in Dhaka. The task force should be formed with local MPs, ward councilors, NGO representatives, doctors, imams of mosques and other dignitaries. There will be law enforcement forces. They will work together to make the lockdown enforced in each area.
The scenario of Monday afternoon was similar to Dhaka’s previous look. Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Old Dhaka, New Market, Karwan Bazar were buzzing with crowed. Dhaka division alone share 57.3 percent of total corona infection cases across the country.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, public health expert Dr Monirul Islam said, “We have already fought the peak time; still fighting indeed. This two week before and after Eid are the most crucial timeline for Covid-19. People now should be thankful how they are fighting with minimal safety materials with awareness.”
“Authorities concerned must act upon mass movement in large volume and if needed curfew or more strict action now would be only measure for the reason that death toll is soaring up,”
In the meantime, eight experts who are members of the Directorate of Health advisory committee, said it is possible to enact a curfew in Dhaka before and after Eid to curb the spread of the contagion.
The experts sent the proposal to Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general of the Directorate of Health, it was not possible to take his comments in this regard as the DG is ill.
Additional Secretary (Services Division) of the Health Ministry Habibur Rahman Khan said on Sunday that the recommendations have not yet reached the Ministry of Health.
He said, these recommendations would be discussed in the national committee before implementation. In a democracy, enforcing curfew is a difficult task. This requires a decision at the highest level of the state.
However, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) consultant and public health expert Mushtaq Hossain said, the idea of building an isolation or quarantine center within the community should be considered. Young people in low-income areas also need to think about earnings.
“In those areas, local youths can also work with the law enforcement agencies. This is how the problem has to be dealt with,” he added.
Professor Meerjady Sebrina Flora, Director at the IEDCR, said, "We worked hard at Tolarbagh. IEDCR health workers have carried out contact tracing since they were physically present. The local people, the local MPs cooperated, were involved in preventing the corona. The City Corporation was active. The law enforcement agencies have done their duties properly.”
