Opening shops, malls a suicidal decision: JSD

Allowing shops and shopping malls to open this Eid is a suicidal decision, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has said.

It called upon the government to reconsider its decision to allow shopping malls and shops to resume business from May 10 for Eid shopping, according to a statement issued by the JSD on Tuesday.

In the statement, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu and General Secretary Shirin Akhtar said the government, by enacting the Infectious Diseases Prevention Act 2018, declared the entire country at risk of Covid-19.

To prevent the virus spread, says the statement, the government announced public holidays and extended it several times. In line with the World Health Organisation guidelines, it also issued an order for maintaining social distance, staying home and not leaving the house without urgent needs.

Except for sales of medicine, food and daily necessities, all shops, shopping malls, markets, public transports, educational institutions, offices and courts, including mass gatherings at religious establishments, have been closed. And regional lockdown has been enforced too.

In spite of all these practical, logical and drastic measures by the government, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research fears the number of Covid-19 cases will cross 50,000 in May, adds the statement.

Amid such a situation, opening shopping malls and shops would allow public gatherings, the JSD leaders said in the statement.

Instead of spending money in shopping, the financially capable people should stand by the unemployed and helpless people with food aid, urged the leaders.

If the helpless with could eat twice a day, it would be the greatest joy of the upcoming Eid, they said.