DHAKA, – Urging all to stay at home, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus today said the government has announced public holidays not for enjoyment but for staying at home to prevent the spread of deadly coronavirus.
“Currently, the world’s main principal is staying at home to stop the spread of coronavirus. If you do otherwise, you will put yourself at risk as well as create threat for thousands of others. So, please stay at home for the sake of your safety and that of others,” he said.
He said this at a press briefing at the Prime Minister Office here this afternoon in view of the mad rush of people at different bus, train and launch stations for going to their ancestral homes.
The principal secretary, however, requested all to take precautionary measures in case of any urgency for going out of the houses.
He simultaneously asked the public and private officials not to leave their workstations as the general holidays from March 26 to April 4 have been announced to facilitate all to stay at home instead of enjoying the holidays.
“The holidays are not given for enjoyment rather to stay at home to check the spread of coronavirus. All the government and private officers and employees would have to stay at home during the holidays,” Kaikaus added.
The principal secretary said that all emergency and essential services of the government offices will remain functional during the period.
He asked all to maintain minimum three-foot distance from others as the social distancing is crucial to prevent the infection of Covid-19.
Dr Kaikaus said the government has taken all necessary measures so that the public life is not hampered.
He, however, said that the kitchen markets, food and medicine shops, hospitals and other emergency services will remain open during the holidays.
PM’ Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim was present at the briefing.
Spelling out precautionary measures taken by the government in line with the prime minister’s directives from the day one since the outbreak of coronavirus in China, Dr Kaikaus said the government has suspended plying of public transports such as train, bus and launch to maintain social distancing to check coronavirus spreading.
“Don’t leave the places where you are now staying at the moment. I request those who have already left their places not to go out of home,” he said.
Urging the low-income people to maintain social distancing, he said. “The OMS (open market sale) is now being opened. Besides, the government has allocated cash and foods for the low-income people. The deputy commissioner offices in the districts will distribute the money and foods among the destitute in time of need. The public servants will go to the doorsteps to this end.”
He reminded the people that this is the high time to fight the coronavirus in unison.
The principal secretary later gave necessary directions to the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and others concerned regarding the measures to be taken to strictly follow the government directives announced on Monday to stop further spreading of coronavirus, through a video conference from the PMO.
Among others, , Principal Coordinator on the SDGs Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office Zuena Aziz and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah were present on the occasion.
