Take steps to curb seasonal diseases: PMO

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) yesterday issued a set of directives to the authorities concerned for taking necessary measures to address seasonal diseases in summer and monsoon and ensuring smooth services for people during the upcoming Ramadan.

The directives came from a high-level meeting held at the PMO with Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus in the chair.

The meeting instructed the Health Services Division to take measures for preventing seasonal diseases -- including dengue and chikungunya.

It also asked the Local Government Division (LGD) to eliminate mosquitoes -- including Aedes, Culex and Anopheles -- by procuring repellents, deploying required manpower as well as conducing cleanliness drives and public awareness campaigns.

The commerce and industries ministries have been instructed for ensuring sufficient stock and supply of essential commodities and their fair prices during Ramadan.

The meeting directed the Cabinet Division and District Administration, Food Ministry and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority to check food adulteration.

The Public Security Division, Bangladesh Police and Dhaka Metropolitan Police have to maintain law and order properly and ease traffic jam in the cities -- including Dhaka and Chattogram.

The meeting advised the Power Division and the LGD to ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply during Ramadan, especially during iftar, sehri and Tarabih prayers.

The Railways Ministry has to make train tickets available, preventing black marketing and maintaining schedule of trains during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

The meeting instructed the Road Transport and Highways Division as well as the Bridges Division to increase the number of BRTC buses, make tickets available, and repair roads and bridges ahead of Eid.

The Shipping Ministry, Cabinet Division and District Administration have been asked to enhance the number of ferries, properly manage ferry ghats, control quality of vessels, ensure risk-free movement and ease process of ticket collection.

The meeting directed the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry to increase the number of domestic flights and control the prices of tickets during the Eid.

The labour and employment, and textiles and jute ministries have been advised to ensure payment of salary for RMG and jute workers on time as well as phase-wise leave for RMG workers during the Eid.