Three Supreme Court lawyers (SC) yesterday requested President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to declare a state of emergency to reduce and delay the transmission of COVID-19 in the country. Advocate Shishir Monir, advocate Asad Uddin, and advocate Jubaidur Rahman sent letters to the offices of the President and Prime Minister in this regard. According to the letter, COVID-19 has spread to 168 countries and regions since its detection on December 31 last year in Wuhan, China. So far, the total confirmed cases of infected persons are above 219,000. The number of deaths has been listed as over 8,900.

In their letter, the lawyers also said that at least seven countries, including the US and Australia, have already declared a national emergency due to the virus outbreak. The letter also said

that many countries are failing to contain the virus despite their best efforts. Countries like the US, Italy. Malaysia, Spain, and Belgium have already declared a lockdown to tackle the situation.

Most of the Middle Eastern countries have shut down mosques, including Masjid-Al-Haram, Masjid-An-Nababi, and Masjid-Al-Aqsa, it added.

The lawyers mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 characterised Covid-l9 as a pandemic. The Bangladesh government has also urged people to avoid gatherings and stay at home.

However, a significant number of people did not follow the instructions. This has resulted in ‘community spread’ of the deadly virus and its being a global concern.

In Bangladesh, 94,000 people returned from abroad last week. Among them, only 2,314 were quarantined.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed the total number of infections in the country to be 17. Among them, three were released upon recovery, 13 others are undergoing treatment at hospitals, and one has died.

The lawyers’ letter cited Article 141A of the Constitution, which says if the President is convinced that a grave emergency exists in which the security or economic life of Bangladesh, or any part thereof, could be threatened by war, or external aggression, or internal disturbance, he/she may issue a Proclamation of Emergency [for 120 days]. However, such a proclamation requires a prior counter signature from the Prime Minister.