728 returnees from India to celebrate Eid in quarantine

A total of 728 people who returned to the county from India recently will have to be in quarantine in different hotels in Jashore and Satkhira on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Of them, 391 are in quarantine in Jashore and 337 in Satkhira.

Many of them are crying while thinking about celebrating Eid in quarantine without families and friends.

Those who are in quarantine in Satkhira alleged they were being treated badly. But the authorities said they had been doing their work as per the government directives.

Nargis Akhter, a resident of Halishahar village in Pahartali thana of Chattogram, along with her husband Md Husamuddin and relative Jakirullah returned from India through Benapole border on 5 May. They were quarantined at Hotel Al-Kashem Int in Satkhira.

With tears in her eyes, Nargis said the hotel authorities had cut the water and electricity lines and they had to call 999 to have water supply back.

"Each of us was asked to pay Tk400-500 daily but we do not have. We three will have to pay the hotel Tk30,000 after 14 days of quarantine. We are 47 people here. We have no money but the hotel authorities are pressuring us to pay," she said.

She further said, "Is there anyone in Satkhira to help us? I informed the deputy commissioner and the additional deputy commissioner of the matter but did not get any help. We do not have any joy of Eid as we cannot celebrate it with our family."

Three brothers – Rashid Ahmed, Abdul Malek, and Jabedul Islam, residents of Nishintapur village in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram – were in quarantine at the same hotel.

They said they had lost their father recently. They went to India together for Malek's treatment.

They said they do not have any money but the hotel authorities were asking them to pay.

Some 237 people were in quarantine in seven hotels in Satkhira town and 100 others at Nalta Sharif Hotel in Kaliganj upazila. On 5 May, they returned to the country from different parts of India.

They mostly went to India for treatment. All of them will be allowed to go home after a 14-day quarantine. 

Satkhira Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Tanjullur Rahman said the administration was providing quality food for the quarantined people marking Eid.

"Their allegations are not correct. They returned to the country on condition of staying in hotel quarantine at their own expense. The hotel authorities will now ask for money and they have to pay," he added.   

Jashore Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Mahmudul Hasan said all those who had returned from India on 1 May and onwards would have to be in a 14-day institutional quarantine during Eid-ul-Fitr.

"Apart from the returnees, the staff of the quarantine centres will have to celebrate Eid without families," he added.

Jashore Additional District Magistrate Kazi Sayemuzzaman said the district administration had taken initiatives to provide the returnees with quality food, including vermicelli, polao, and meat on Eid.

According to Jashore district administration, 2,699 people carrying Bangladeshi passports returned from India in the last 15 days from 26 April to 10 May.

Of them, 1,181 are staying in different hotels and hospitals in the district.