Niketan takes extraordinary steps to protect residents

Niketon Society, a community organisation, has taken extraordinary measures in Niketon area of the capital to protect its residents from novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

On Monday, the society restricted the entry of housemaids, staff and hired cleaners in the area.

The society members said no food or grocery shops in Niketan will be allowed to remain open.

The society's General Secretary AKM Sahiuzzaman Haris told The Business Standard, "A development project of Dhaka North City Corporation has been stopped to limit the entry of around 400 workers from outside."

"There are some government and private offices. The entry of the staff members travelling by public transportation – by bus or ride-sharing car and bikes – will be restricted too," he said adding that the protective measures are for the security of  Niketan residents' health.

Around twenty thousand people live across the 75-acre area.

At least 125 security guards and cleaners have been deployed to keep Niketon clean.

Of the four entry gates, only two are now open amid strict security checks.

Anti-germ liquid – a mixture of bleach powder and water – is being sprayed over private cars running by the society residents.

"Additionally, the alleys are being washed with the anti-germ liquid," said Haris. 

The 25-member Niketan Society asked its residents not to participate in social gatherings. Senior citizens are requested to perform religious prayers at home.

"The kitchen shops have been directed to sell perishable items before March 25. Vendors of kitchen items are requested to stand at the entry gates from where the consumers may shop," he said. 

Initially, the protective measures received a negative response by some residents who did not agree to restrict their housemaids' entry. 

However, they gave their permission after a series of discussions.

Kamruzzaman Kafi, a resident of Niketan, now finds the protective measures timely when the number of coronavirus-affected patients is increasing in Bangladesh.

His family is now coping with the extraordinary situation as their housemaid has stopped coming to their house since Monday.

"We are maintaining home-quarantine in this disaster-like situation. Our food menu is almost the same for the three meals per day. Having four or five food items on the table is now a luxury," Kafi told The Business Standard. 

 "The society is planning to provide personal protection equipment [PPE] for its security guards and cleaners. If we get an adequate supply, every household in Niketan will get at least one piece of PPE," Haris said.

Niketan Society's anti-coronavirus campaign is planned for the next two weeks. If the situation takes a turn for the worse, the restriction will continue for an indefinite period.