Government yesterday assigned Bangladesh Army to build quarantine facilities for people with coronavirus symptoms at the Biswa Ijtema ground in Tongi on the outskirts of the capital. Health Minister Zahid Maleque announced the government decision while briefing reporters about the current coronavirus situation at IEDCR in Mohakhali.  

However, the minister said that the ijtema ground of Tongi will be used for quarantine and necessary treatment for the corona-affected people in case of emergency.

“The ground has already handed over to the army for taking proper initiatives. The army already has taken the ground under their control,” he added.

The health minister also said that Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital is already in use to treat the coronavirus. In addition, many more hospitals, where about two thousand beds can be arranged, have been identified.

However, if there is need for a larger space, the arrangement is also being made. That’s why, the Ijtema ground has

been handed over to the army. He said new COVID-19 unit will be set up in eight divisions of the country to strengthen information, treatment facilities and monitoring of the disease.

Mentioning that some people who travelled abroad are not following quarantine rules, he said all foreign returnees must stay mandatorily in quarantine for 14 days.

“Otherwise, legal action will be taken as per Infectious Disease Control Act if anyone does not follow the directive,” he said. “More than 5000 people are currently in quarantine across the country…action will be taken if anyone tries to violate the quarantine rule,” he said.

Zahid Maleque also directed the health services division secretary to give directives to administration, police and intelligence departments to play strong role in ensuring the home quarantine of returnees.

Earlier, on March 14 army personnel were deployed in the Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital upon the request of the health ministry to control access and security of the returnees from Italy.