Health DG regrets remark
Directorate General of Health Services director general Abul Kalam Azad on Friday regretted the remark he made on Thursday that COVID-19 might linger two to three years in Bangladesh.
He came up with the regret in a video message sent to the media Friday evening amidst widespread criticism from almost all quarters including the ruling Awami League.
‘My statement created confusion. I am regretting the unexpected incident,’ he said.
‘It was a scripted statement, but I could not check the script before reading it out due to some business,’ said the health services chief.
‘But, I later realised that it would create confusion,’ he said.
Related Coverage:
- › DGHS DG’s comment on COVID-19 irresponsible, frustrating: Quader
- › Actions, not words, needed, say experts
Azad regretted hours after Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on the day said the health services director general made an irresponsible remark on COVID-19.
‘Making an irresponsible remark at a sensitive point of time was not right for someone in a responsible position,’ Obaidul Quader said while speaking at a virtual press briefing from his official residence in Dhaka, reports Bangladesh angbad Sangstha.
Asking the health officials to refrain from making such ‘uncoordinated and unwanted’ statements, the AL general secretary said prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her government have been working relentlessly to keep the morale of people strong and encouraging the frontline COVID-19 fighters amid the ongoing crisis.
At that time, the short-sighted and irrational statements from some senior officials of the health department about the duration of coronavirus crisis are creating frustrations among the people.
Quader urged AL leaders and workers to help the local administrations following health guidelines in implementing the government decisions aiming to stop coronavirus transmission in the country.
About the area-based lockdown, the road transport and bridges minister said this decision should be implemented effectively and immediately once the decision of the zone-based lockdown is finalised.
Noting that proper coordination must be ensured in enforcing an area-based lockdown, he said it would be easier to achieve goals if there is a proper coordination.
He called upon all concerned to closely monitor and build strong teamwork to implement the decision of area-based lockdown.
Vowing to bring to justice those involved in the killing a doctor in Khulna, the AL general secretary said many of the frontline COVID-19 fighters have already sacrificed their lives to save the life of the country’s people from the invisible virus.
In such a situation, he said, a doctor was killed in Khulna, which was very sad and unfortunate for the nation.
Reminding that the Sheikh Hasina’s government does not patronise any injustice, he said that no matter how powerful the wrongdoer is, he or she would not be spared.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
