Neighbourhood-based lockdowns still days away
Two city corporations of Dhaka are awaiting maps specifying the areas where lockdown will be imposed from the authorities concerned to stem the transmission of Covid-19.
They said it would take a few more days to get the maps, and two to three more days are also needed after getting those to make necessary preparations.
"We have sought the maps from the authorities concerned before enforcing the lockdown. After getting these, it will take 48 to 72 hours more for implementing the decision in the specific areas," Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh told journalists at the Nagar Bhaban after a coordination meeting on the issue yesterday.
Taposh said even if they get a specific map of a particular area by tomorrow, they will take 48 to 72 hours to put the area under lockdown as they will have to prepare for this.
He said they would implement the lockdown decision involving everyone, including local councillors and law enforcement agencies.
City dwellers will also have to come forward to make the lockdown successful as it is for their betterment and they will have to help them even after accepting their personal sufferings for this.
"We will try to bring down the [coronavirus infection] cases to zero level in the areas where the lockdown will be imposed," he said, adding that the lockdown might last for 14 to 21 days.
The Directorate General of Health Services earlier identified 28 areas in DSCC and 17 areas in DNCC as red zones to curb the spread of the virus.
In a video statement yesterday, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam said they were waiting for the maps from the DGHS before putting the red zones under lockdown.
He said the DGHS already marked 17 areas of DNCC as red zones. But before going for the lockdown, the maps were very necessary to be more specific about the areas.
Atiqul said after getting the maps, they would take preparations involving local lawmakers, councillors, law enforcement agencies, and others based on the experience from East Rajabazar, which has been under trial lockdown as a red zone since June 10.
The mayor added that they would need 48 hours for enforcing the lockdown after getting the maps as they would have to prepare for this.
On Monday, Atiqul told The Daily Star that they were facing many challenges while imposing the experimental lockdown in East Rajabazar.
"We will have to know how much food is needed [for residents] before enforcing the lockdown," he added.
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