Govt Plans to Use Launches As Coronavirus Isolation Units

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said on Saturday that all passenger flights have been set up as isolation centers to counter the novel coronavirus.

Necessary steps will be taken after talks with the Ministry of Health, he said at a meeting to share views with launch owners in Dhaka's Sadarghat.

Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Director General of Shipping Commodore Syed Ariful Islam, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq, Launch Owner Samity Vice-President Shahidul Islam Bhaiya, among others, were present.

Khalid said that these isolation centers would play an important role, particularly in coastal areas where coronavirus therapy is not possible.

Adequate protection steps will be taken and the releases will be brought to a secure location following consideration in the cabinet, he added.

The state minister said, "We’re supporting the shipping workers until the coronavirus crisis is over."

Later, the state minister distributed 200 packets of food items among the workers at Sadarghat.

Source: UNB