Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged villagers not to be reluctant about taking Covid-19 tests and having proper treatment as the virus is highly contagious.
“Still, there’s a problem here. I receive news from rural areas that people there don’t go for Covid tests out of the fear that they’ll be treated as untouchables if their information of Covid positive spread around. They fear that no one will mix with them. This is not the right mindset,” she said.
The Prime Minister made the remark while addressing the 27th founding anniversary programme of Bangladesh Awami Swecchasebak League (BASL), joining it virtually from Ganobhaban.
BASL, an associate body of ruling Awami League, arranged the programme at the Awami League’s central office at the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue.
The prime minister said if anyone goes for Covid test, he or she would be able to receive medical treatment in addition to not infecting other with the virus.
“This is how will be able to save other’s lives. This attitude should be there among people,” she said.
READ: PM unveils commemorative stamp to mark Joy’s birth anniversary
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, asked the party workers and its associate bodies to convey this message to the common people to remove their reluctance about the Covid test.
She said her government has long been taking measures to bring 80 percent of the country’s population under the Covid vaccination coverage.
The PM said people will be able to get vaccinated with spot registration using their NID cards in rural vaccination centres.
Hasina also asked BASL leaders and activists to help and motivate people to get vaccinated as the government has taken an initiative to launch a massive vaccination drive at the grassroots level across the country.
Hasina said the Swecchasebak League always stood beside people, setting an example, and asked its members to continue their services to humanity.
Talking about the birthday of PM’s ICT Affairs Adviser and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, she recalled Joy’s contribution towards making Digital Bangladesh.
READ: All will get Covid vaccine shots, reassures PM Hasina
“Today’s Digital Bangladesh is his brainchild. He (Joy) always suggested to me what to do…. Today we’ve got Digital Bangladesh. Here everything has been done as per Joy’s suggestions,” she said wishing him a long life and good health.
Hasina greeted all the members of Swecchasebak League on its 27th founding anniversary.
A documentary on BASL activities in the last year and on the occasion of the birthday of Sajeeb Wazed Joy was screened at the function presided over by BASL President Nirmal Ranjan Guha.
Besides, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book “One Year of Swecchasebak League,” that focuses on its activities over the last year.
AL joint general secretary and former president of BASL AFM Bahauddin Nasim also spoke as special guest at the function moderated by BASL general secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu.