BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the coronavirus situation has reached an alarming level in Bangladesh due to the government’s “indifference and incapability” to take effective preventive measures.

 “The government has been exhibiting double-standards in formulating the corona prevention policy. On one hand, they’re saying that we’re giving lockdown and resuming public transport services and reopening shopping malls and shops on the other,” he said.

Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “It means the corona situation has reached such an alarming level only because of their (govt’s) indifference, failure and incompetence.”

Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge

He said health experts are warning that the nation is going to face a serious disaster as over a hundred to thousand people may die from coronavirus next month if the virus continues to surge.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) arranged the discussion marking the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.

Fakhrul said people are going through serious sufferings for lack of sufficient Covid test facilities, lack of treatment and ICUs in hospitals.

“This is unfortunate for us that the corona has now taken a terrible turn in the country. The government has not taken any effective preventive measures though the virus has hit the country last year. As a result, the second wave of the virus has come this time, endangering the lives of people and their livelihoods,” he observed.

Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP

The BNP leader said though the government has started the mass vaccination drive, it is now unable to provide any assurance to people about when the next consignment of the vaccine doses will arrive in the country. "Now, they're saying they’re trying to get vaccines from China and Russia. But it’s too late. "

JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur, among others, addressed the programme.