Covid Advisory Panel Dissent From Decision to Relax Restrictions

The government's decision to relax the strict lockdown across Bangladesh for nine days ahead of Eid-ul-Azha has upset the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19.

Members of the committee have stated that they do not agree with the decision, which is in direct opposition to what they had suggested, according to media sources.

They stated that such relaxation at this time, when Covid-19 instances and deaths are on the rise, is equal to eliminating the restrictions.

However, it is believed that the government has been forced to take this decision in the face of various pressures from traders, transport owners and workers. Experts say it's just suicidal. Because there is no need for science to understand what the consequences would be if restrictions were relaxed where the infection was skyrocketing.

Professor Shahidullah, chairman of the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19, thinks the decision will increase the risk of infection. How can a decision be made to relax the lockdown the day after the maximum infection? Where we should have been more strict, there we took the opposite decision.

Professor Robed Amin, a spokesman for the health directorate, said that infections and deaths would increase in the aftermath of Eid. According to him, there is no doubt that the infection will increase if the shopping mall and Sacrificial Amimal’s Market are remained open.

Former Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor Nazrul Islam, one of the members of the National Advisory Committee, said, "I am unable to understand that why did we make this decision even after the experience of last Eid.

"We are all shocked by this decision," said Iqbal Arslan, another member of the committee.

A new notification was issued on Wednesday, a day after the lockdown was relaxed for eight days. It has been said that it is not possible to visit tourist centers, resorts, community centers and recreation centers during leisure time. Public gatherings and religious ceremonies should be avoided. The lockdown was eased from midnight on Wednesday. But the ferry ghats had been thronged with people since morning. There has been a long traffic jam on the road.

Meanwhile, 210 people have died of corona in yesterday. At this time 12 thousand 383 people were got infected. Deaths and infections have increased compared to the previous day.