Treating Covid-19 Patients: Fearful, locals resist a noble initiative
Protests erupted in Tejgaon Industrial area yesterday over the plan to set up a dedicated hospital at a building in the area for treating coronavirus patients, halting the refurbishment works for hours.
Locals said the protesters attempted to vandalise the existing building where Akij group, in association with Gonoshasthaya Kendra, is planning to set up the hospital.
The demonstrators, who are the followers of local ward councillor Shafiullah Shafi, also prevented two trucks carrying beds and other equipment from entering the compound.
The protest began around 12:15pm and continue for more than an hour until police and the councillor rushed there and assured them of stopping the works.
A notice reading "The work has been stopped" was hanged in front of the site.
Ali Hossain Khan, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Police Station, said, "People thronged there to protest the move of setting up the hospital, fearing that the virus might spread in the locality."
"We have convinced them to return," he added.
Shafi, also the president of Tejgaon Industrial Thana unit Awami League, said "I went there after hearing the incident. Setting up a hospital in this area won't be a good decision," he told The Daily Star.
An official of the Akij Group said they have almost evacuated the compound where some other works were going on.
A meeting was held yesterday following the protest and authorities would hold a press conference within a day or two in this regard, he said.