Bangladesh will work with UK to fight corona, reiterates PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed profound sadness for Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who has been infected with novel coronavirus, and reiterated Bangladesh's stand to work with the UK diaspora to fight the lethal disease.

In a letter sent to Prince Charles on Sunday, who is also a very good friend of Bangladesh, the prime minister lauded his (Prince Charles) dynamic leadership, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.

"I have always commended with great admiration your personal and institutional leadership towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, and the conservation of our common heritage and the environment," Sheikh Hasina said.

The premier said she is eagerly expecting Prince's recovery which is much needed for his whole-hearted campaign and advocacy for addressing the water and the climate crisis, and also his invaluable philanthropy work to champion the education and livelihoods of young people within the Commonwealth.

Materialising potential on two-third youth, Sheikh Hasina warmly welcomed the inauguration of the British Asian Trust in Bangladesh for promoting social enterprise, livelihoods and mental health of young people, issues that are receiving high priority in Bangladesh's national sustainable development agenda.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is ready to work with the diaspora in UK in the common fight against curbing the spread of novel coronavirus or Covid-19 and its aftermath.

Sheikh Hasina also apprised the Prince of the domestic Covid-19 situation and also the preemptive measures taken to save the people of Bangladesh from being affected by this invisible deadly virus.

"Our government acted very seriously with strongest preventive measures from the very early stages of the global outbreak including screening of passengers on arrival at the airport and introduction of dedicated quarantine zones near the airport as early as January 2020," she said.

The premier said she personally suspended all celebrations and gatherings for the long-cherished birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, shut down all educational institutions and announced full lockdown from 25 March advising people to stay at home.

"We've designated hospitals and fully equipped health professionals to handle affected patients. Due to all these extreme measures, we have been able to contain Covid-19-affected confirmed cases in Bangladesh to 48, with 5 unfortunate deaths and 15 recoveries," she said.

Sheikh Hasina wished Prince Charles full recovery from Covid-19 at the soonest and the continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom.