What to Expect from Hasina’s Address to Nation?

Prime Minister Sheik Hasina is expected to talk to the nation a day before Independence Day amid fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On Wednesday, Hasina's press aide Ihsanul Karim told media, the speech will be broadcast on state-run media at 7:30 pm.

While the world begins to go under lockdown to combat the pandemic, in her speech Hasina is expected to detail steps to curb the epidemic and its economic effects.

"So we can't make some impulsive action. We need to take detailed arrangements and prepare when to do what, "said Secretary-General Obaidul Quader of the Awami League on Mar 23, when he was asked if Hasina could announce a lockdown in her address.

On Wednesday, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University, the global death toll from coronavirus reached 18,918 with the number of infections increasing to 423,121,.

Bangladesh confirmed another death on Wednesday due to the infection, bringing the number of deaths to five but no cases of infection have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

In a heavily populated country like Bangladesh, there is uneasiness around the risks of rapid dissemination. First came the closure of all educational facilities, and a prohibition on public assemblies. The government instead ordered all offices suspended with a general 10-day holiday from Mar 26. Since Tuesday local trains, services for tourists and domestic flights have been halted

“Necessary steps will be taken in due course. The prime minister will definitely tell the nation what is necessary to say,” Quader added on Tuesday.