Lockdown of border areas

Only a couple of days ago, we had opined in these very columns that the government should opt for a strict lockdown in the border districts if we are to avoid a situation like the kind that India is facing presently. The demand stemmed from the recommendation of the civil surgeons in six bordering districts who had called for complete lockdown in the infection-prone areas to prevent further spread of the virus. And we believe there was no dissenting voice in this regard. Therefore, it is vexing to see that the local administration is yet to implement the call of the civil surgeons.

We do not believe that the matter of lockdown should be left to the local administration entirely. In the absence of specific directives from the standing committee on fighting Covid-19, which seems to have gone into hibernation, the health ministry should play the leading role, as it always should, and issue strict enforcement directives to the local officials of these districts. If the health minister says that he is in favour of a complete lockdown, why should it be left to the local officials in these districts to further observe the Covid situation for the next few days and decide on imposing lockdown after discussions with all the stakeholders?

The infection rates are alarmingly high in the districts bordering India, varying between 44.11 percent in Natore and 18 percent in Kushtia. Therefore, the situation brooks no further discussion. And, may we ask, who are the stakeholders with whom the local officials would like to discuss the situation? The only stakeholders, we believe, are the people, and the only thing at stake is their health.

We repeat our call because every moment of delay in imposing the lockdown will endanger people's lives. Not only should a complete lockdown in these districts be enforced, movement out of these districts should also be strictly regulated. Understandably, complete lockdown would entail inconveniencing people, especially daily wage earners and the marginalised. The government must have adequate provisions for such an eventuality, which should be geared up to tide over the situation.