Bangladesh Coronavirus: Slum residents have little protection against Covid-19 | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
July 25, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025
Slum residents have little protection against Covid-19

Coronavirus chronicle

Sadiqur Rahman & Abdullah Al Mamun
19 March, 2020, 03:40 pm
Last modified: 19 March, 2020, 06:09 pm

Related News

  • One dies from COVID-19 in 24 hrs
  • Covid-19: Two more deaths, 7 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Covid-19: One more death, 10 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Three die from Covid-19 in 24 hrs
  • Five Covid-19 deaths reported in 24 hours, 36 new cases detected

Slum residents have little protection against Covid-19

“Even if a single slum dweller gets infected by Covid-19, the consequences will be grave.”

Sadiqur Rahman & Abdullah Al Mamun
19 March, 2020, 03:40 pm
Last modified: 19 March, 2020, 06:09 pm
Photo: Rehman Asad/TBS
Photo: Rehman Asad/TBS

Rita Aktar, a resident of Karail slum, an impoverished neighbourhood of Gulshan and Banani, had stopped her four-year-old son from going to school in fear of coronavirus outbreak a few days before the government shut down all educational institutions.

She had learnt about the virus outbreak through the internet. Media campaigns and household discussions also helped her understand the situation.

But Rita still feels concerned for her son's health because of the overcrowded and unhealthy environment of the slum.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"I ask my son not to communicate with other children. But how long can I control his movements?" Rita expressed her concerns on Wednesday when Bangladesh reported its first death from the coronavirus.

To prevent a possible coronavirus infection, the mother uses only soap to maintain hygiene.

Other families living in the slum have rarely taken any protective measures to fight the virus. Many of them are even unaware of the danger of a possible outbreak.

According to Dushtha Shasthya Kendra (DSK), a non-government organisation working for the health benefits of slum people, the population of Dhaka city slums is around 30 lakh. Of them, more than 1 lakh live at Karail.

"Even if a single slum dweller gets infected by Covid-19, the consequences will be grave," Dr Dibalok Singha, executive director of DSK, told The Business Standard.

Children and elderly people will be the worst victims, he added.

Almost all the Karail people are poor. The males are mostly CNG-run three-wheeler drivers, rickshaw-pullers, security guards and helping staff at different offices while the females mostly work as housemaids.

Nargis Begum, 45, who works as a babysitter at a Cabinet member's residence in Gulshan, said her employer advised her to use antiseptic liquid and hand sanitiser.

"I wash my floor with the antiseptic liquid. I also use it to bathe my daughter. But I have not used the sanitiser yet," she said.

Her husband Manu Hazi has a house at the Karail slum with seven rooms where at least 19 tenants live. They have only one bathroom and a latrine. There are only two stoves for cooking.

The crowded house has no option to isolate anyone in case of emergency. The house owner seems very reluctant about the possible threat of coronavirus outbreak.

"How many times can I wash my hands? This is impossible," he said when asked to wash his hands regularly.

Ansar Ali, owner of Osman Pharmacy at the slum, told The Business Standard, "The slum dwellers lack health consciousness. Health facilities are inadequate. A single case of coronavirus infection will take a huge toll."

According to Ansar, the breathing problem is common for the elderly slum dwellers while many children suffer from cold, fever and allergy during this time of year.

The Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur is another slum in the city where residents are living in a dire condition in five feet by three feet rooms, with an average of five to six members in each room.

The roughly 235,000 square feet area is one of 70 camps all over the country "with a population of 30,000-40,000 people", as per general secretary of the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee, Showkat Ali.

The environment of the camp seems not much favourable for public health. Dustbins are scattered all of over the narrow roads of the camp. There are small hotels, many of which are by the side of the dustbins. Flies can be seen flying all over the places in the market place.

Corona's history tells us that this type of open market and densely populated places play a key role in spreading the virus.

No pharmacies inside the camp have hand-rubs. "Camp people here do not panic over coronavirus fear. Not so many people ask for sanitisers from me," said a pharmacy owner.

Nobody was seen aware of coronavirus or taking any measures though Showkat Ali claimed that they asked the camp people to stay clean through the loudspeakers of the mosques.

"No city corporation trash cars come inside the camp to take trash. Also, there are 120 common toilets in the camp, but no city corporation cleaners come to clean it. How could we maintain our hygiene without these things?" he said.

In Geneva Camp, children sell cotton candies and potato chips inside the camp and the surrounding areas which are generally overcrowded by people.

Their outfits and dirty hands prove that the children have little option to practise hygiene.

Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, emphasised on mass awareness among the slum residents.

"Working people like transport staffers and domestic workers should wear facial masks during work time," Nazrul Islam told The Business Standard.

"They should wash hands properly at the entrance of their houses. The protective measures will save their family members and other neighbours," he concluded.
 

Top News

COVID-19 / Slum

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. File photo: TBS
    Govt clears new tariff structure for Chattogram port
  • Hasina and Taposh in an event in 2020. Photo: Collected
    Al Jazeera investigation: Hasina, in call with Taposh, talks using helicopter to shoot, crush protesters in July uprising
  • Photo: UNB
    Chinese medical team arrives in Dhaka to treat Milestone crash victims

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image/Reuters
    Dollar gets upward push as BB buys $10m more in auction at even higher rate
  •  ABM Khairul Haque. File Photo: Collected
    Former chief justice Khairul Haque detained
  • File photo of Bangladesh Bank. Photo: TBS
    Governor Mansur orders withdrawal of BB dress code after directive draws criticism
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Tariff talks: Bangladesh, US set for crucial virtual meeting on 29 July
  • Mehreen Ahmed speaking to media on 11 July 2025. Photo: Collected
    Court disposes of Dhaka girl's case against parents seeking 'protection from abuse'
  • Hasina and Taposh in an event in 2020. Photo: Collected
    Al Jazeera investigation: Hasina, in call with Taposh, talks using helicopter to shoot, crush protesters in July uprising

Related News

  • One dies from COVID-19 in 24 hrs
  • Covid-19: Two more deaths, 7 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Covid-19: One more death, 10 new cases reported in 24hrs
  • Three die from Covid-19 in 24 hrs
  • Five Covid-19 deaths reported in 24 hours, 36 new cases detected

Features

Illustration: TBS

The future of medicine: How innovations will catalyse quantum leaps in healthcare

2h | The Big Picture
Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

23h | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

2d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

There are many more examples of trials of Chief Justices in the world.

There are many more examples of trials of Chief Justices in the world.

59m | TBS Today
Why is there a massive conflict between Thailand and Cambodia?

Why is there a massive conflict between Thailand and Cambodia?

1h | TBS News Updates
Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in prison

Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in prison

1h | TBS Today
The Nvidia Chip Deal Trades Away the United States’ AI Advantage

The Nvidia Chip Deal Trades Away the United States’ AI Advantage

1h | Videos
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net