Raising COVID-19 awareness on his bike

A young man rides around Jamalpur city on his bicycle every day, displaying placards inscribed ‘wash your hands frequently’, ‘maintain social distance’, ‘make the country corona-free’, ‘don’t leave home unless for emergency’ and ‘use a mask’. He goes to corner of the town to raise public awareness about coronavirus that has taken hundreds of lives across the world.

This is Barkat Mia. The 34-year-old works in a raw materials factory. The Prothom Alo correspondent talked to Barkat on Saturday morning. A simple man in lungi and slippers, he wore a mask. He said he only studied up till the higher secondary level. He lives in the Pathalia area of the municipality with his wife and child. He said he decided to raise awareness among people after he came to know about the virus outbreak in the country.

All public transport and shops are closed in Jamalpur under government direction to prevent coronavirus infection. The army, police and district upazila administration are working day and night to keep the people in their homes. Yet people still come out. To help the administration and law enforcers, Barkat started his campaign from Wednesday to make people aware.

Barkat Mia wrote three placards on his own and placed them on his bicycle. He rides his bike every day around the neighbourhoods from 11:00am till evening. He carries out his campaign in various areas including Pathaliya, Brajapur, Baniabazar, old Ferighat, Guabaria, Chandra, College Road, west Nayapara, Golapbagh, Dewanpara, Rashidpur, Bypass, Kampur, Faujdari, Bakultala. He said he would continue this campaign until the infection comes to an end in the country.

Barkat Mia said, "our people were in killed in the same way in 1971. We all have to fight this virus. This war this time is different, though. We cannot see the virus. To avoid infection, everyone has to stay home. This is how we can save ourselves and save others.”

“Suddenly it decided to get involved in this war. I starting doing what could. This is how everyone should come forward. Someone else might be doing this. That's how we have to deal with this crisis," he added.