Rajib Hossain Rajon, Shariatpur
People from all walks of life and profession fear that coronavirus infection can take drastic shape in this Shariatpur as administration could not trace a large number of foreign returnees in the district.
8,464 people returned from different countries to Shatiatpur in the last two months. Among them 340 people are currently in home quarantine and 304 people have completed their quarantine. Apart from that, the others are have not been traced yet.
According to district police sources, from March 11 to 23, 3,464 people returned in Shariatpur from abroad. Five thousand more people returned between February 11 to March 10. The district administration has issued a public notice for abroad returnees to contact the police station and other health centers except those who are already in home quarantine. But many of them did not respond to the public statement. Concerns are growing among people regarding the untraced expatriates.
In this situation, the district administration, police and the army are working in the field to keep people aware, to remain inside home, maintain social distance and obey the quarantine rules for foreign returnees. Besides, various organizations and politicians are distributing equipment to prevent corona virus. From Saturday the district administration has started distributing 10 kg rice and Tk 200 to low-income and poor people.
According to district administration sources, one and a half lakh people of Shariatpur live abroad. About 80 percent of them live in Italy. Among them, 70 percent are resident of Naria upazila. Expatriate were coming to Shariatpur even after being exposed to corona virus.
In this regard, Delwar Hossain, a resident of Bhojeshwar area of Naria said, “Thousands of people returning from abroad are roaming around hiding information while we are anxiously sitting at home. Everybody in Bangladesh today is terrified and worried because of them. Those who emigrated, practiced the rules and regulations while they were living in developed countries then why are they behaving like this in their own country?”
Jajira Upazila Corona Prevention Committee member Palash Khan said, “The unawareness of some of the people who have returned from overseas has put us all in a state of concern today. Still we are conducting awareness raising work to keep our motherland safe. We are advising people to stay at home and distributing disinfectants and masks as much as possible.”
Various materials have been distributed to prevent corona virus in the initiative of Begum Ashrafunnesa Foundation, established in the name of Shariatpur-2 constituency MP and Deputy Minister of Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem's mother.
Hand sanitizers and masks were distributed by Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Awami League unit, Juba League and Chhatra League leaders. For three days, they have been spraying disinfectants in various hats, bazaars, roads and regular vehicles in Shariatpur.
District police, Shariatpur Maunicipality, non-governmental organization SDS, social organization Jayanti, Corona Prevention Committee of Jajira are working to disperse disinfectants in various places and distributing masks, sanitizers and soaps among people.
On this, Deputy Minister of Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem said, “Right now, people have to be in safe houses and maintain social distance. Only then can we prevent the spread of corona virus. Food assistance will be provided to every working and low income citizen of my constituency.”
Deputy Commissioner Kazi Abu Taher said, "Local public representatives and administration officials and employees are providing food assistance to low income people and the poor. We urge all to take initiative to save the country, including ourselves, in compliance with government directives and health rules”.