Force people to exercise precautions against corona: Govt

As the public awareness about Covid-19 safety measures has declined, the government has asked the field-level administrations to intensify their mobile court drives so that people exercise precautions like wearing face masks.

"We've already asked the field-level administrations to go for further extensive enforcement, if needed," said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Secretariat after the virtual Cabinet meeting.

Mentioning that the issue was also discussed at the Secretary-level meeting on Sunday last, the Cabinet Secretary said the Information Ministry on Sunday was particularly directed to conduct awareness campaign in a greater way.

"We strongly recommended these at the secretary-level meeting held yesterday (Sunday)," he added.

In the case of massive mobile court drives, the field-level administrations were asked for taking measures to publicize the punishments being given, said Anwarul Islam.

"If people see someone punished by mobile courts for not wearing masks, they'll be aware about it," he said.

The media can also play an important role in raising the public awareness covering the news over the punishments given by mobile courts, the Cabinet Secretary added.

"It's now seen the awareness about corona precautions among many people has declined. But it'll have to be enhanced," he said adding that people must take precautions.

The Ministry of Information was asked to go for a greater awareness campaign at the field level by using loudspeakers and hanging billboards, said Anwarul Islam.

The Prime Minister, who presided over the Cabinet meeting, asked the authorities concerned for taking preparations if any flashflood is seen in the middle of the Bengali month of Bhadra as the flood may prolong this time, said the Cabinet Secretary.

The directives came as Indian meteorological department forecast that heavy rainfall may be seen in the upper-riparian places of India at that time.

Since the existing water level has started receding, the Prime Minister also asked them to speed up the rehabilitation programmes for the flood-hit people.

She asked the authorities concerned for giving special attention to the production of Ropa Aman (T Aman) crops and water-tolerant varieties of crops as the Aman seeds were destroyed by the floods.

The Prime Minister joined the meeting through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other cabinet members participated in it from Bangladesh Secretariat.