A four-day campaign for wearing masks kicked off in cattle markets in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) on Friday ahead of  Eid-Ul-Azha.

The campaign titled ‘Mask Amar Surokkha Sobar (mask is mine, protection is for all)’ will be conducted in 11 cattle markets ---9 in DNCC and 2 in CCC-- till July 20 next as part of raising awareness to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19.

DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, CCC Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury and State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury (Nowfel) jointly inaugurated the campaign, joining an online programme.

ICT Division, Access to Information (a2i) programme and Shakti Foundation in cooperation with DNCC and CCC arranged the campaign.

Also read: Countrywide digital cattle market launched, gets good response

Under the campaign, some eight lakh masks will be distributed and there will be arrangements for hand sanitizers as well in the cattle markets of the two cities.

The campaign will later be spread throughout the country, said a press release from the a2i programme of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Addressing the function, Mayor Atiqul Islam said the DNCC also provided 500,000 masks to Shakti Foundation to distribute those under this campaign. There will be arrangements for antigen test in eight cattle markets of DNCC.

Besides, DNCC provided Tk 100,000 to each of its 72 wards for purchasing masks and sanitizers.

Atiqul Islam said they developed an app with the support of the ICT Division. “If any citizen lodges a complaint using the app, it will be resolved within 24 hours,” he added.

Also read: Cattle markets open in Dhaka amid low arrival, high prices

Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said CCC has allowed five cattle markets this time and distributed masks and sanitizers there. The lessees were given conditions that any person without masks can’t be allowed in the cattle markets and a person should be allowed in the markets to buy a single animal, he said.

 Zunaid Ahmed Palak stressed the need for making wearing masks as a habit and cultural practice gradually.

So, it is essential to engage all responsible people including local public representatives in raising public awareness over wearing masks, he said.