Amdadul Haque
Though coronavirus panic runs high among people, no measures have yet been taken in the crowded places like launch and inter-district bus terminals and rail stations across the country. “Like many people I’m also here to depart Dhaka as I want to go to my village. As it is the busiest and big railway station in the country, which witnesses huge crowd of passengers every day, it is a serious risk of the coronavirus,” a passenger told this reporter while walking on the platform of Kamlapur railway station.
Moving around Kamlapur Railway Station, Sadarghat Launch Terminal, Sayedabad and Mohakhali Bus Terminals, the Bangladesh Post Correspondent found no measures taken yet to prevent spread of coronavirus. These places, however, wore deserted looks yesterday as there were seen a small number of passengers -- a cascading effect of coronavirus outbreak that has taken over almost all sectors.
Ahsanul Sahan, a passenger who came to Dhaka from Sylhet by Parabat Express, said that he did not get any service from the train to protect him from coronavirus. He said, “Technically, Bangladesh is a digital country but the railway stations have not been taken any measures to screen the virus which started spreading rapidly.”
“Whenever anyone is coming from another part of the country, government should provide proper officials at the rail stations to check up people for the coronavirus. If anyone is found tested positive then he or she should be sent away immediately for treatment,” Farhana Laky, a railway passenger said.
However, it is learned that there is no detecting machine in the railway stations of Bangladesh such as thermal scanner. While asking about this, Mia Jahan, Additional Director General of Bangladesh Railway said, “We have taken steps to create awareness among the passengers and distributed leaflets which provided from the Health Ministry”.
Besides, bus passengers said they have not seen any special measures taken by the operators. “Bus authorities must clean the dirty seats, seat covers and glass. Cleanliness can save us from coronavirus,” Noor Mohammad told The Bangladesh Post while he got down from a bus in Sayedabad bus terminal.
Another passenger, Hamidur Rahman, said, “I’m worried as five persons in our country infected with coronavirus. Despite risk, I’m still using bus as I cannot afford avoiding public transport.” Masuma Aktar, a school teacher, said, “if people in the first world countries get infected then I could never imagine what would happen to Bangladesh and its people.”
There is no detecting machine found in the bus terminals for detecting coronavirus. Passengers urge the authorities concerned to take necessary measures to stop the spread. Talking to The Bangladesh Post, President of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity Moshiur Rahman Ranga said they have instructed bus owners and operators to keep clean their vehicles ant to provide sanitizers to the passengers to prevent the virus spreading.
“We’ve given some instructions to the bus owners to clean buses at the start and end of every trip, spray germicide inside them and ensure a clean environment,” he added. Ibrahim Khalil sabuj, who came from Barishal by launch at Sadarghat launch terminal, said, “The authority should be careful about the people who are entering the capital from other divisions and necessary precautions should be taken at the launch terminals.” He claimed that he did not find any measures taken by the launch authorities to protect passengers from coronavirus.
Public relations officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Mubarok Husen Mojumdar told The Bangladesh Post that they have taken a lot of measures in the launch terminals across the country to prevent corona. “We distributed leaflets among the passengers. We have set up a lot of banners and festoons also to make awareness about the virus.”
“Already we have directed all officials of Barishal, Paturia, Chadpur and Aricha launch terminals to take effective measures to prevent coronavirus,” he added. The global death toll surged past 5,000 yesterday, with the total number of confirmed cases worldwide having crossed 150,000. As Bangladesh confirmed five patients infected with coronavirus, the bus and launch terminals as well as railway stations did not take any measures to prevent coronavirus.
Experts said Novel coronavirus cannot be prevented single-handedly; rather it needs combined efforts from each and every sector, not only at airports but also everywhere. Since it is already too late to take precaution for COVID-19 in Bangladesh, people should have to volunteer themselves for consulting doctors who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or coming from the highly effected countries. Mass gatherings should not be allowed in any terminal in the country.
According to Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, five affected cases were confirmed in Bangladesh. Dry cough, fever and breathing problems are the elementary symptoms of Covid-19. When these symptoms would visible, people must consult with a doctor.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Malek has urged vehicles not to be transported with passengers having cold-cough-fever to prevent coronavirus infection. The Health Minister also requested the Ministry of Railways and Road Transport and Bridges to keep hand sanitizer in public transports for passengers.
After an urgent meeting with senior officials, including secretaries of 18 ministries and departments, at the secretariat on Sunday, the minister said that if anyone has a fever in the body, he or she should not use any transport.
