Rally demands more ICU beds at SBMCH

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) rallied in Barishal city yesterday, to press home its eight-point demand including turning the 18-bed ICU unit to a 100-bed one at the coronavirus unit of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Its other demands include Covid-19 test facility in every district in Barishal region, sample collection from door to door and quick delivery of the test report.

BSD leaders and activists blocked Sadar Road in the city's Ashini Kumar Hall area to organise the programme, disrupting traffic from 12pm to 1pm.

Party member secretary Dr Manisha Chakrabary said people are facing problems due to delay in delivering coronavirus test report. Many are being deprived of testing facility and subsequent treatment.

She said Barishal division has only one PCR lab at SBMCH for Covid-19 test. "So, this facility should be introduced in every district here," she added.

Imran Habib Rumon, convener of BSD Barishal city unit, said the district administration, civil surgeon's office and Barishal City Corporation do not co-ordinate in preventing the deadly virus.

They also demanded that the employees and workers suspended by different industrial and commercial units during this pandemic be reinstated.

No workers should be terminated and no factories should be closed until their workers are paid their due wages, they said.