BNP places 5 point proposal to Govt

Publish: 9:36 PM, July 8, 2021 | Update: 9:36 PM, July 8, 2021

Shafiqul Islam (Shafiq)
The BNP has demanded to the government to take five integrated steps, including the formation of a national emergency advisory committee to control the devastating spread of the corona virus across the country. At a virtual press conference on Thursday afternoon, the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presented the demand for an all-out plan to the government. He said the corona situation in the country was out of control as a result of the government’s indifference and extreme failure to formulate a science-minded policy.

He said keeping billions of poor people in the informal sector at home without food aid was a violation of human rights. Public transport is closed. But industries and mills are open. Due to the government’s tough stance, day laborers and low-income people have faced a terrible crisis. In fact, the present government is arbitrarily collecting taxes from the poor people.

That is why the government is recklessly corrupt and misgoverning. However, food security must be ensured if the needy people directly affected by the lockdown are to be kept at home. We clearly demand that the government should take a comprehensive plan to implement the five integrated measures taken by the BNP to protect Bangladesh from the control of the global epidemic Corona.

(1) In order to keep the poor people at home, they have to pay at least TK 15,000/- in cash at one time and deliver food. (2) People’s need to follow hygiene and use masks to get out. (3) At least 80% of people need to be vaccinated very quickly. For this, an integrated and precise road-map has to be prepared, presented to the nation and implemented. The country needs to take effective measures to produce vaccines immediately. (4) At present, corona infected patients need to ensure comprehensive health care across the country. For this, necessary oxygen supply, increase in ICU and corona beds, essential medical supplies and adequate doctors/health workers have to be recruited all over the country. (5) Despite many delays, a national emergency advisory committee comprising health experts, all political parties, NGOs and social organizations has to be formed.

These five things need to be set as the main target in corona control. We must remember that the fight against the Corona epidemic is in fact a long-lasting one. Humanitarian assistance to the poor can only be provided by allocating 6-7% of our GDP, i.e. a small portion of the current huge budget of TK 6 lakh crore, to this sector. For this requires the will and sincerity of the government. BNP standing committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Md. Ismail Zabiullah virtually joined the press conference.