PM urges proper screening, quarantine of returnees from abroad

Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 1 asked the authorities concerned to ensure proper screening and compulsory quarantine of the returnees from abroad following the second wave of coronavirus in Europe and many countries of the world.

“The time has come once again to ensure proper screening and (compulsory) quarantine of the returnees from abroad. Measures as taken before would have to be put in place again at each of the airports and other ports across the country to confirm whether anyone is entering the country with coronavirus,” the premier said.

The prime minister said this while addressing a function as the chief guest marking the “Bangabandhu National Youth Day-2020” organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry from her official Ganabhaban residence through a video conference.

In her speech, the Prime Minister reminded that many countries in Europe have witnessed massive surge of Covid-19 and have been forced to impose lockdown again. Therefore, Bangladesh has to be very careful with welcoming returnees from abroad, she said, urging the concerned authorities to take necessary steps in this regard.

Following the premier's order, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said a decision has been taken to form a five-member committee headed by the foreign secretary to surveil world's COVID-19 situation and monitor the hygiene of returnees from abroad.

The information was given by the state minister for foreign affairs after an inter-ministerial meeting on November 1. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen presided over the virtual meeting.

On the other hand, at a press conference at the Ministry of Health on November 1, Health Minister Zahid Malek said that doctors and nurses across the country have been instructed to be ready to deal with the second wave of coronavirus.

The health minister further added that the number of trained doctors and nurses will be increased at the hospitals where Covid-19 patients are being treated across the country. He also claimed that the government will soon sign an MoU to ensure availability of vaccine as soon as it is rolled out