Create fund equivalent to 10pc of GDP to tackle coronavirus outbreak: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh today underscored the need for creating a special fund equivalent to 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product to face the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, TIB also stressed on adopting a transparent, implementable and integrated national strategy to address the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Claiming that the impact of the coronavirus is not an issue to be solved immediately, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said in the statement that it is imperative to form short-, mid- and long-term strategies by setting up a specific framework to face the national disaster.      

The anti-corruption watchdog also called upon all to uphold the highest level of transparency and accountability in terms of all kinds of financial transactions amid the prevailing situation.

In the statement, Dr Iftekharuzzaman also said there is not enough time to sit idle by undertaking some scattered preventive measures and sending people to home quarantine.

The root cause of the coronavirus infection will have to be found out and the competency of the doctors will have to be strengthened. Alongside those, the authorities must ensure security of the doctors and health workers to deal with the issue, the TIB executive director added.