DGHS DG’s comment irresponsible: Quader

Ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said the director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has made an irresponsible remark on COVID-19.

He said the “short-sighted and ignorant” statement of a senior health official about the duration of the coronavirus crisis has made the people disappointed.

“Making an irresponsible remark at a sensitive point of time was not right for someone in a responsible position,” Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said while speaking at a virtual press briefing from his official residence.

At the regular news bulletin of the DGHS, its director general Abul Kalam Azad on Thursday said the coronavirus situation is not going to end in one, two or three months, while the virus infection may continue for the next two to three years or more.

Asking the health officials to refrain from making such “uncoordinated and unwanted” statements, the AL general secretary said prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her government have been working relentlessly to keep the morale of people strong and encouraging the frontline COVID-19 fighters amid the ongoing crisis.

At that time, he said, the short-sighted and irrational statements from some senior officials of the health department about the duration of coronavirus crisis are creating frustrations among the people.

Quader urged AL leaders and workers to help the local administrations following health guidelines in implementing the government decisions aiming to stop coronavirus transmission in the country.

“The last destination of our hope and the lighthouse of our spirit, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has been working relentlessly (to this end). I do believe that the AL leaders and works, like on the previous occasions, will play a courageous role in implementing her decisions,” he said.

About the area-based lockdown, the road transport and bridges minister said this decision should be implemented effectively and immediately once the decision of the zone-based lockdown is finalised.

Noting that proper coordination must be ensured in enforcing an area-based lockdown, he said it would be easier to achieve goals if there is a proper coordination.

He called upon all concerned to closely monitor and build strong teamwork to implement the decision of area-based lockdown.

Quader said there is no reason to be worried over the rising trend of coronavirus infection. “We will overcome this crisis under the leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, InshaAllah,” he added.

Vowing to bring to justice those involved in the killing of a physician in Khulna, the AL general secretary said many of the frontline COVID-19 fighters have already sacrificed their lives to save the life of the country’s people from the invisible virus.

In such a situation, he said, a physician was killed in Khulna, which was very sad and unfortunate for the nation.

“I strongly condemn this killing and extend my sympathy to the victim’s family. I call upon all the frontline fighters to have patience,” Quader said.

Reminding that the Sheikh Hasina’s government does not patronise any injustice, he said that no matter how powerful the wrongdoer is, he or she would not be spared.