High Court (HC) in an observation yesterday said lockdown is a good solution to prevent spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) as is the case in China, which has successfully overcome the deadly virus attack after declaring lockdown in affected areas. A bench of the HC, comprising Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir, also advised the countrymen to follow guidelines set by the government and keep faith in it in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

The bench also expressed hope that the authorities concerned would ensure the supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for the law enforcers and journalists, who are performing their duties amid risks posed by coronavirus outbreak across the country.

The HC bench came up with the observation and hope during a hearing on two separate writ petitions filed by Supreme Court lawyers seeking necessary directives in this regard.

“We all have to work jointly in tackling coronavirus. We have to follow the model of Taiwan. How this country managed to tackle corona outbreak despite being the next door neighbour of China,” the HC bench observed. It said that the media owners should supply PPEs to heir journalists while the authorities concerned should supply PPEs to the law enforcers, who were performing their duties amid coronavirus outbreak across the country.

It said that the authorities concerned of the media outlets may take measures in this regard for their staff. The HC bench also disposed of the petitions without passing any order, saying that the government is trying its level best to tackle the situation. Advocate Md JR Khan Rabin and Advocate Humayun Kabir Palllob appeared for the petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Pratikar Chakma represented the state.