DHAKA, June 26, 2020 (BSS) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today urged BNP to stop blame game over COVID-19.
“…if the government has any mistake in dealing with coronavirus crisis, you (BNP leaders) should help the government identify it,” he said while addressing a virtual press briefing on contemporary affairs from his official residence here.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, BNP has been criticising the government, but not playing a responsible role as a political party.
He said this is not time for doing politics as now the only politics is to stop coronavirus infection and save the lives of people.
Asking BNP leaders to stop falsehood and help the government address the ongoing coronavirus crisis, he said: “As per the expectation of people, you (BNP leaders) should play a responsible role to this end.”
From the very beginning of this crisis, Quader said, the government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been working restlessly to prevent infections, expand medical networks, procure safety equipment and protect the helpless and jobless people despite having various limitations.
He said the world’s richest nations, including the USA and the United Kingdom, have been struggling to address the coronavirus pandemic as no country has absolute preparation to tackle it.
About the BNP’s allegation that the government is concealing information over COVID-19, the AL general secretary said there is no scope of hiding information in the era of the free flow of information and the government has no intention to do so.
He said the Sheikh Hasina’s government is gradually achieving the capacity of addressing coronavirus crisis by overcoming its limitations.
Quader said about 1.25 lakh people have so far been affected with the deadly virus in the country, while more than 50,000 recovered from COVID-19.
Risking their lives, the frontline COVID-19 fighters, including doctors, nurses, technicians, police, army personnel and officials of public administration, have been working to save the lives of people, he said.
Calling upon AL leaders and workers to stand by commoners amid the coronavirus pandemic, the AL general secretary said the government has always been seeking cooperation from all the political parties in dealing with the ongoing crisis.
He said the government has the courage to accept constructive criticism and correct its mistakes.
Stressing the need for science-based management of medical waste amid the coronavirus infection, Quader said, “Proper science-based management of safety equipment used to prevent virus infection is an urgent matter now”.
He said indiscriminate disposal of masks, goggles and sanitizer containers is increasing pollution and health risk as well.
“I request all to dump all these discarded items at designated places.
Besides, all the concerned have to pay attention on proper management of medical waste,” he added.
About the allegations of fare hike in public transports, the road transport and bridges minister said there are allegations that some public transports are charging extra fare from passengers.
“I have directed the BRTA to take strict legal action in this regard,” he added.