Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, and a preventive measure, the ruling Bangladesh Awami League has decided to postpone all larger scale meeting, mass gatherings and discussion programmes till the month of April next.
Party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader, also the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Affairs, made the announcement Wednesday while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting held at the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in capital Dhaka.
“The government has taken all kinds of measures and initiatives to prevent the spread of coronavirus. As part of the measures, the Bangladesh Awami League also has decided not to hold any kind of large scale rally, mass gathering and discussion meeting till the month of April,” said Obaidul Quader.
However, inner activities of the party will remain as usual, he added.
At the meeting, Obaidul Quader called upon the BNP to cooperate with the government in tackling the corona situation shunning their nasty politics over it. “It’s not fair to do politics over humanitarian and sensitive issues. Rather you, (BNP), should cooperate with the government to tackle the corona situation,” he said.
Quader said, the government has made all-out preparations to face the challenge. BNP has destroyed political etiquette by carrying out heinous incidents like the August 21 grenade attack, the AL general secretary said.
“Even after that, we are seeking cooperation from all. So, we urge BNP to refrain from spreading political hatred over the situation,” he said.
The minister said, the whole world is worried and in panic over the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
“I want to tell those who are saying the government did not remain prepared to tackle the situation, that it (the government) has taken central preparation and the concerned ministries and divisions have taken simultaneous preparations soon after the spread of coronavirus (in the world),” he added.
Quader said, detection of coronavirus in the Italy returnees could be possible because of the government’s preparation, and it took necessary measures for the two individuals immediately.
Another person was affected by the virus from the duo and the government also took measures for the affected person, he said, adding that apart from that no new case was detected.
He said the BNP is searching for newer issues and even they are now out to make corona situation an optical issue.
The minister said the spread of coronavirus is now a global concern as it is spreading in fresh countries.
“As we remain prepared, we are lucky. The virus could not spread in our country and the viral infection was not so serious,” he added.
The joint meeting was arranged for discussing contemporary issues and revised the schedule of the inauguration of Mujib Year.
Presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka City north and south units of AL and its associate bodies, party lawmakers and mayors of the two city corporations joined the joint meeting.
AL Presidium member Shajahan Khan, Joint General Secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmed Hossain, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan and Mirza Azam, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Publicity and Publications Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and Agriculture and Cooperatives Secretary Faridunahar Laily, among others, attended it.
