Nineteen voluntary organisations conducted a much-needed mask campaign in the port city of Chattogram on Saturday, marking the International Volunteer Day.
Dr Bidduth Barua, founder and CEO of Chattogram Field Hospital, Bangladesh’s first Covid-19 field hospital, took the initiative to raise public awareness about the need of using masks to face the second wave of the pandemic virus.
The government has made it mandatory to wear a mask for taking services with a slogan ‘no mask, no service’. Law enforcing agencies are carrying out mobile courts to compel people to wear mask.
Some 190 volunteers took part in the mask campaign at various key points of the port city. Dr Barua distributed masks among the public on the street. He showed people how to wear a mask properly and said there was no alternative to wearing a mask to prevent the virus.
“The second wave has already begun. We have to be aware of that,” he said, urging people from all strata including politicians to come forward in this regard.
Somonnoy, Onirban Club, Mominbagh Club, Chatgaiya Blood Bank, Manobota, Youth Voice, Better Future Bangladesh, Swapnayatri Foundation, Startup Chattogram, Aggrogamy, CTG Blood Bank, Manobik Chottrola, Swapna Oggro Yatra Society, Trinamul Natyadal, Sheikh Rasel Digital Lab Chattogram, Chattogram Field Hospital, Home Hospital, Connect the Dots, and Rotary Club of Chattogram were the organisations that took part in the campaign.
Connect the Dot founder and CEO Tanvir Shahriar Rimon, DIG of tourist police Moslem uddin and coordinator of the programme Faisal Quasem were also present, among others.
The theme of the International Volunteer Day was ‘Together We Can Through Volunteering’.
Volunteers have been at the forefront of medical, community and societal responses over the last few months as the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged across the world.
SS/