“A full-scale virus lockdown isn’t possible in Bangladesh. What India did wasn’t very effective,” he told reporters at his ministry on Tuesday.
Asked if a lockdown would be imposed, Quader, the number two man in the ruling Awami League, said it was not on the cards. “Some restrictions may be put in place but nothing of this sort (lockdown),” he said.
But Quader said people’s lives come first and the government would make “tough choices” considering the virus outbreak situation.
“Masks must be used, [and] that’s a tough decision … people will be fined if they don’t wear masks, the prime minister is very strict in this matter,” he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is monitoring the virus situation herself. “The government has preparations,” he said.
Bangladesh reported 2,419 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours until Monday, pushing up the tally to 449,760.
The country recorded 28 more Covid-19 deaths during the period, taking fatalities to 6,416 with a mortality rate of 1.43 percent. In the last seven days, 201 people lost their lives to Covid-19.
Prime Minister Hasina has been warning the people of a possible second Covid-19 wave and urging everyone to wear masks and properly follow health guidelines.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Monday said the administration would go tough on people who won’t wear masks.
The Prime Minister has asked the authorities concerned to carry out a larger campaign and force people to wear masks, he said.
The government has already implemented a ‘no mask, no service’ policy while mobile courts are being operated to ensure the use of masks.
Bangladesh has signed a deal for 30 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and manufactured by AstraZeneca.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca on Monday said that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90 percent effective.
Talking about the ’Golden Monir’, an ordinary salesman who turned super rich ‘through corruption’, and also owned 200 plots, the Minister said “In this case, not only the criminal but also his associates who helped him will be spotted and action will be taken against them.”
Referring different media reports that stated that Monir had gifted a car to a State Minister who is also allegedly involved with the corruption, Quader said authority concern is investigating over the matter.
Talking about trafficking money abroad he said Prime Minister has told the ACC to probe into it, adding that “Whoever involved in such cases will be brought under justice.”
ACC will disclose their names after investigation, he said.
Referring recent incidents of violence against women, Quader said “If any rapist or assaulter of women are caught in Awami League they should be banned from the party permanently; not only suspension will work. We are very strict in this regard.”
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