DHAKA, March 26, 2020 (BSS) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today urged all to maintain ‘stay at home’ rules to help limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
“We defeated enemy together in the 1971 Liberation War. Tackling coronavirus is also a war. Staying home is your key responsibility in this war. With a combined effort from all, we will win in this war,” he said.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, was speaking at a press conference at AL President’s Dhanmondi political office in the capital.
He said as a successor of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her address on Wednesday made a call to the country’s people to stay their homes and help stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.
“As one of the country’s people, she (the premier) stands by them. We do believe that we would be able to tackle coronavirus situation with a combined effort of all,” he said.
Noting that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has presented the government’s preparedness and work plans to prevent coronavirus before the nation, the AL general secretary said: “While the entire world is struggling to tackle the unexpected crisis, the Sheikh Hasina-led government is working sincerely to address the coronavirus situation overcoming its limitations.”
He said declaring a war against coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges all to refrain from going out of homes without any emergency.
Noting that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the countrymen to follow the health guidelines, Quader said the whole world is going through a deep crisis and uncertainty due to the coronavirus, while the prime minister, as a guardian of the nation, addressed before the nation a day before the Independence Day aiming to give instructions in tackling the crisis.
He said the prime minister in her address instructed the authorities concerned to provide assistance to the poor and working people during the 10-day holiday announced by the government aiming to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The premier assured of providing homes, food and cash to the homeless and landless people and continuing the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD), the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programmes and other safety net programmes, the road transport and bridges minister said.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a Taka 5,000-crore incentive package for industrial sector and the industry owners must pay the salaries of their workers from it.
At the onset of the press conference, Quader greeted the country’s people and AL leaders and workers on the occasion of the Independence and National Day.