Decision to lock Wari down hangs in limbo
Dhaka South City Corporation says without a detailed zone mapping, it is quite difficult to implement lockdown in such a large area
The Dhaka South City Corporations' decision to put Wari area under experimental lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic is still hanging in a limbo due to a lack of detailed zone mapping or specific guidelines.
Responding to a query on Sunday, Dhaka South's Public Relations Officer Md Abu Naser Tipu said, "We have received a recommendation letter from the health ministry saying that the Wari area be locked down as a red zone.
"But since the beginning, we have been asking for a detailed zone mapping and specific area-based data so that we can go for the lockdown. Without mapping, it is quite difficult to implement the lockdown in such a large area."
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Reiterating the same opinion, local Councilor Sarwar Hossain Alo said, "We have finished all preparations, but nowwe are waiting for a map."
Md Hannan Ul Islam, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Wari zone, also told The Business Standard, "We are yet to receive any instructions for putting the area under a lockdown."
Meanwhile, Dr Ayesha Akhter, assistant director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said they have sent recommendations to the health ministry and to other concerned officials, such as the local government ministry, regarding this matter.
"We have recommended an experimental lockdown in the Wari area. It is now up to the local authorities by how and when they will go for the initiative," she added.
DGHS Additional Director General Dr Nasima Sultana on Saturday said letters have been issued to the relevant ministries to identify virus clusters in Wari and put those areas under lockdown.
"The authorities have nearly completed their preparations to put Wari – under the Dhaka South City Corporation – in an experimental lockdown to contain the transmission of the coronavirus pandemic," she said at a daily online health bulletin.
Speaking at the programme, she said the West Rajabazar area had been put under lockdown as it was a red zone, and any area might be considered a red zone depending on its conditions and guidelines from a consultative committee working under the DGHS.
Earlier, the Dhaka North City Corporation put West Rajabazar under lockdown from June 10 to stem the onslaught of the novel coronavirus.
