Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (Mar 9) said the birth centenary programmes of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be celebrated in such a way so that the people do not fall in risk due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
“As the lethal virus has created a panic worldwide, it’s our responsibility and duty to concentrate on the safety and health of the people. That’s why we’ve rearranged the birth centenary celebration programmes of Bangabandhu,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, was delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee held at Ganabhaban in Dhaka in the evening, local media reported.
“We want the people is not affected in anyway. We’ve rescheduled the (birth centenary) programmes by looking at their wellbeing, though it (rescheduling) was very painful for us,” she said.
The PM also urged the countrymen not to be panicked over lethal virus, which has been named as COVID-19. “This virus will exist for a few days, then it will be over. So, there is nothing to be worried about it,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the weather is being changed as it is moving to summer from winter.
“Naturally cold-related diseases are seen at this time and I can surely say there is nothing to be panicked in normal cold,” she said.
The PM said there is no doubt that celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation is a big incident for the nation. “However, we’ll celebrate it in a different way so that the gathering of the people is less and they don’t fall in risk,” she said.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the government had taken initiatives to celebrate the occasion in a large scale and lakhs of people are expected to join it.
“But we’ve rearranged the programmes considering the public safety and health due to the outbreak of coronavirus,” she said.
The PM said her politics and politics of Bangladesh Awami League are for the welfare of the people of the country.
“That’s why, I and my younger sister Sheikh Rehana and other members of our family gave consent to reschedule the programmes of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu considering public security and health,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the world leaders and other guests from various countries were keen to attend the celebration, but the schedule has been changed against the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak which spread more than 100 countries.
The PM said many programmes have been suspended including the children rally on the Independence Day on Mar 26 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
She said inaugural ceremony of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu will be held on a limited scale on Mar 17 next.
Sheikh Hasina said other programmes including placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka and placing of wreaths at the mazar of the Father of the Nation in Tungipara, Gopalganj will be observed as per schedule.
“However, the children’s rally in Tungipara will be held on a limited scale,” she mentioned.
Sheikh Hasina called upon the people to follow the health rules properly and remain neat and clean. “There is nothing to be worried … there may be some risk for the elderly people, but the youths need not to be worried,” she said.
The PM said the people will have to keep their houses and surrounding areas neat and clean as the mosquito menace is seen this time.
“You’ll have to avoid massive gathering of the people and wash your hands properly,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina simultaneously urged the people to use separate waste basket instead of throwing wastes including tissue paper here and there.
“It may infect the people. So, I’m requesting all to stay alert about this,” she said.
The PM said the people suffering from cold-related diseases will have to remain careful about the virus, but there is no need to wear mask unnecessarily for it.
“All have become crazy for buying masks and sanitizer and they’re purchasing those in huge quantity, this is happening not only in Bangladesh, also across the world … it’s nothing than madness,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the people will have to drink more water, and consume liquid foods and fruits with Vitamin C. “It’s now seen that a huge quantity of seasonal fruits that prevent diseases are produced in the country and the people can eat these fruits to protect themselves from diseases,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s measures to check the people from the onslaught of the coronavirus, the PM said three hospitals in the capital have been specified for the coronavirus-infected people.
Besides, precautionary measures have been taken at the district and upazila levels and hospitals of those areas have been kept ready with necessary equipment including adequate physicians, nurses and beds to face any situation due to coronavirus, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government is conducting campaign to make the people aware about the coronavirus. “The television channels are broadcasting bulletins,” she said.
The PM said the government has suspended issuing on arrival visas for the people of those countries where coronavirus broke out.
