BNP for closing educational institutions for two weeks

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Tuesday demanded the government shut down schools and colleges at least for two weeks to avoid the spread of coronavirus in the country, reports news agency UNB.

“We think educational institutions, including schools and colleges, need to be closed immediately. At least a two-week closure is needed at the initial stage, and then further steps can be taken observing the situation,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He was addressing a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in the capital.

Justifying their demand, the BNP leader said students, including children, and their guardians gather at educational institutions in large numbers, which the experts suggested to avoid preventing any chance of outbreak.

Two Bangladeshis, who recently returned from Italy, were tested positive for COVID-19. A third person was infected after coming in contact with one of the returnees.

Health experts have urged people to avoid unnecessary mass gathering to prevent the spread of the virus, first reported in China’s Wuhan.

The issue of educational institution closure has been discussed widely since the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the detection of three coronavirus cases in the capital.

However, health minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said the situation still did not reach such a level to shut down the schools and colleges.

Fakhrul alleged that the government has failed to take proper preparations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

He said the government has specified three hospitals in the capital for treating the coronavirus-infected patients, but the other patients from those hospitals are yet to be shifted. “Dengue and coronavirus are not the similar type of disease. Other patients at the hospitals will be infected if the coronavirus-affected ones stay there with them.”

The BNP leader said the government should take steps to keep only coronavirus- infected patients at the specified hospitals.

He also said physicians and nurses should be given proper training to properly provide treatment to the infected.

Fakhrul urged all concerned to ensure proper treatment of the coronavirus-infected people and take prompt precautionary and preventative measures so that the disease cannot spread badly in the country. “People won’t forgive if the government fails to do so. Because people do not want to be victims of mass deaths once again like that of 1974.”

He also urged the BNP leaders and activists to carry out a mass campaign to make people aware of the disease. “I urge our party leaders and activists at all levels to stand by people and poor patients with the necessary treatment, advice and materials to tackle the situation.”