Burimari Land Port: Workers at high risk of coronavirus infection
Around 2600 workers engaged in loading and unloading goods are at a considerable risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus at Burimari Land Port in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat as they are to work along with foreign workers amidst the latest Covid-19 spike.
The workers demanded that the booster dose of the Covid vaccine be administered to them on a priority basis.
The local department said they will administer the vaccine among the workers after getting a go-ahead from the higher authorities.
Safar Uddin, president of Burimari Land Port Load-Unload Labourers' Union, said labourers at the Burimari land port have to unload goods from trucks coming from India and Bhutan. Transport workers who come with foreign vehicles often come in contact with local workers. Due to this, the local labourers working at the port are at risk of contracting Covid-19 virus.
"Every labourer has been administered two doses of the covid vaccine. No labourers have received booster doses yet," he said, adding that "I appeal to the authority to administer booster dose to the labourers on a priority basis. The health department has not taken any action so far".
Anarul Islam, a labourer at the port, said in order to unload goods from foreign vehicles on the land port, they often have to work along with foreign transport workers. They have to work taking risk of Covid-19 infection.
"We would feel safe if we received the booster dose of covid vaccine," he said.
Moniruzzaman Monir, general secretary of Lalmonirhat District Unit of Sangjukta Sramik Federation, said the health department has been urged to administer booster doses of covid vaccine to labourers in Burimari Land Port on a priority basis but no steps have been taken in this regard.
He demanded that the health department take immediate steps to administer booster dose to local labourers.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority's Assistant Director at Burimari land port Ruhul Amin said it is urgent to administer booster doses of covid vaccine to loading and unloading labourers working at the port on a priority basis. He has informed the health department about this, he said.
Dr Maqbul Hossain of the special medical team at Burimari Land Port said he has already informed the higher authorities about the matter.
If they get direction, booster doses of covid vaccine will be administered to the labourers working in the port soon, he added.
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