Amdadul Haque
With the unabated increase of deaths and corona-infected persons across the country, anxiety has been intensified among the people over their works and livelihoods, making them horrified about bleak future scenarios.
The lockdown, ‘no any way out to do anything’ and the spread of coronavirus put the country in a state of uncertainty. Bangladesh was not prepared for that uncertainty as the number of infected people is gradually increasing day by day. As a result, anxiety is naturally increasing among the people.
The virus is spreading at an incredible rate in different areas, despite various attempts to stop it. On average 500 people are being infected every day. Many are dying. The medical system is collapsing under the pressure of patients. The everyday scenario is creating intense anxiety among people.
However, the death toll stands at 177, said Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of DGHS, during a briefing on Sunday. 665 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and this is the highest number of infections detected so far in the country. With this, the total number of infected has reached 9,455.
Meanwhile, life in the continuous lockdown situation has also become a curse. People are not able to go to work and the money saved in the house is already exhausted. With the increase of spread of coronavirus, the fear is not leaving behind. In such a situation, the people are very worried about their families and livelihoods.
Sahajan Alom, a resident of Mogbazar area of the capital, said, "I can't go out of the house due to the outbreak of coronavirus. There is no work. I am worried about how long I will have to remain unemployed. There is also a concern for the family. There must be a system of financing for my livelihood."
Visiting different areas and talking to a number of people, it is learned that with the passage of time, the anxiety among them is mounting.
Hazera Begum, a resident of Muhammadpur area, said, "The number of victims in the capital is increasing every day. It's really scary. If I don't need much, I don’t go outside of my house. Amid scary situation of the country, I am spending my days enduring a lot of anxiety."
Meanwhile, people in Bangladesh, like the rest of the world, have been instructed to stay at home due to the coronavirus. That is why people have been under lockdown for more than a month, affecting many mentally.
People want to get rid of these worries and return to the familiar environment very soon. That's why everyone is now spending their days keeping in touch with their loved ones on a regular basis, using the time to get rid of all the leftovers or reading books.
Dr Hasanul Bari, a resident of Shahbagh area, said, "This situation has a profound effect on people's mental health, especially for those who already have anxiety and mental problems. Such situation can create more serious problems."