Go for area-wise lockdown instead, say experts
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
January 27, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
Go for area-wise lockdown instead, say experts

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

TBS Report
08 April, 2021, 10:20 pm
Last modified: 09 April, 2021, 10:44 am

Related News

  • China locks down area around world's largest iPhone factory
  • JCI Dhaka East holds 'Expert talk'
  • Uganda locks down two districts over Ebola outbreak
  • ‘Central Bank leaders do not exercise their power’
  • Shenzhen districts locked down as China battles Covid outbreaks

Go for area-wise lockdown instead, say experts

Bangladesh should work on imposing zone wise smart lockdowns where the infection is spiking

TBS Report
08 April, 2021, 10:20 pm
Last modified: 09 April, 2021, 10:44 am
Go for area-wise lockdown instead, say experts

With the markets and shopping malls reopening on Friday, Bangladesh's weeklong stay-at-home order is poised to peter out amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases and fatalities.

As the blanket lockdown seems to have collapsed in the face of protests by people over livelihood, economists and health experts advocate for area-wise targeted lockdown to dial up efforts to flatten the infection curve.

Permitting markets and shopping malls to open from Friday on a limited scale, the government reshaped its lockdown curbs Thursday. Businessmen had been protesting the business suspension order since Monday – the first day of the countrywide lockdown.

Earlier on Wednesday, the authorities had also resumed public transport services in the cities from 6am to 6pm to ease office-goers' suffering.

As the lockdown restrictions on public movements and gathering fade away even before the weeklong stay-at-home completion, experts hold the government responsible for the "unplanned measures" to curb the virus spread.

Dr Mohammad Sorowar, a public health expert and executive director of the Biomedical Research Foundation Bangladesh, said, "Considering the current situation, Bangladesh should work on imposing smart lockdowns where the infection is surging."

He believes an unplanned lockdown in a developing country like Bangladesh with inadequate healthcare access may not work out.

"Lockdown is enforced to reduce the mounting pressure on the existing healthcare system. But Bangladesh was not able to develop sufficient healthcare infrastructure in the first place to deal with Covid-19 patients in the last one year," Dr Sorowar noted.

Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute, said the government's efforts to isolate Dhaka – which contributes to half of the virus cases – from other districts is important.

But like Dr Sorowar, he believes there should have been area-specific lockdowns where the infection rate is high.

He said Bangladesh has a strategic failure in maintaining quality vaccination which is very important to slow down the infection rate.

"We could not manage sufficient vaccination arrangements as per the needs of the people," Ahsan H Mansur added.

The 18-point lockdown rules aimed at restricting people's movement and gatherings by imposing a ban on all sorts of public transports to contain the surge in Covid-19.

However, car services of different ridesharing companies such as Uber and Pathao have already resumed operations with the public transport resumption Wednesday.

Now the companies want the ban on motorbike ride-sharing to be lifted as Pathao submitted a letter to the Cabinet Division Thursday in this regard.

Pathao President Fahim Ahmed said the government should consider lifting the ban as motorcycle ride-sharing is instrumental to providing income opportunities for many whose livelihood is at the greatest risk during this time.

Currently, the inter-district bus services, domestic flights and train services are suspended in line with the 18-point lockdown rules.

Besides, citizens are restricted to go out from 6pm to 6am except emergencies such as buying medicines, going to the hospital or buying essential items.

On top of this, around 60,000 restaurants across the country are allowed to only take-away services or home deliveries.

Restaurant owners said they want to resume their full operations.

In a press release, the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association said restaurant staff will form human chains at all press clubs in the country on Saturday with the full-fledged operations demand.

The lockdown allows all public, semi-government, autonomous offices, courts and private offices to remain open on a limited scale.

The 18-point directives said factories and industries will remain open after ensuring workers' safety and health guidelines.

Top News

lockdown / Expert

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infograph: TBS
    State banks spend 80% of their forex for govt imports in H1
  • Manufacturers feel the pinch as consumers tighten belt
    Manufacturers feel the pinch as consumers tighten belt
  • Production remains halted in 8 power plants of Chattogram
    Production remains halted in 8 power plants of Chattogram

MOST VIEWED

  • Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
    Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Tighter screening at ports urged as new Covid sub-variant BF.7 detected
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    First case of new Covid sub-variant Omicron BF.7 detected in Bangladesh: IEDCR
  • Illustration: Collected
    Genome sequencing reports of Chinese nationals infected with Covid by Sunday: IEDCR
  • Computer image of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19
    4 Chinese nationals detected with Covid at Dhaka airport
  • Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded
    Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded

Related News

  • China locks down area around world's largest iPhone factory
  • JCI Dhaka East holds 'Expert talk'
  • Uganda locks down two districts over Ebola outbreak
  • ‘Central Bank leaders do not exercise their power’
  • Shenzhen districts locked down as China battles Covid outbreaks

Features

Sketch:TBS

Why we need consumer education for consumer wellbeing

1h | Thoughts
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute. Illustration: TBS

Twin shocks call for stronger domestic policy response

2h | Thoughts
December-er shohor, taxi taken for airport and the Park Street bathed in lights. Photo: Jannatul Naym Pieal

Exploring Kolkata on foot, empowered by Google Maps

2h | Explorer
Island hopping in Bangladesh?

Island hopping in Bangladesh?

4h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

16h | TBS Stories
Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

17h | TBS Stories
PCB recalls cricketers from BPL ahead of PSL

PCB recalls cricketers from BPL ahead of PSL

19h | TBS SPORTS
Why Misha Sawdagar became villain instead of a Hero?

Why Misha Sawdagar became villain instead of a Hero?

18h | TBS Entertainment

Most Read

1
Picture: Collected
Bangladesh

US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud

2
Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
Bangladesh

Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 

3
Illustration: TBS
Banking

16 banks at risk of capital shortfall if top 3 borrowers default

4
Photo: Collected
Splash

Hansal Mehta responds as Twitter user calls him 'shameless' for making Faraaz

5
A frozen Beyond Burger plant-based patty. Photographer: AKIRA for Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Special

Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad

6
Representational Image
Banking

Cash-strapped Islami, Al-Arafah and National turn to Sonali Bank for costly fund

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]