Dhaka: As many as 20 of the 41 new cases reported on Tuesday are from these neighbourhoods at Old Dhaka, Mohammadpur, Adabor, Bosila, Badda and Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital. Earlier, Tolarbagh in Mirpur was locked down after a cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a mosque was found in the area.  

Some 200 buildings of Khaje Dewan Lane in Old Dhaka were on lockdown after a woman contracted the coronavirus.

“The woman does not go outside. Then it must be his husband or sons who brought the virus home,” Chawkbazar Police Station OC Moudut Halder told bdnews24.com.

A vice-president of the local mosque’s governing committee was the first known COVID-19 patient in the area and he used to meet a vast number of people, besides offering prayers at the mosque, the OC said.

“We are not allowing anyone into or out of the area. Police are delivering whatever the residents need,” he said.

Bongshal Police Station OC Shaheen Fakir said a building styled Rose Mariners at Siddikbazar has been locked down.

The lower floors of the building house shops while the upper floors have 40 apartments.

One of the residents, a 56-year-old man, has contracted the virus.

In Lalbagh, two people from Boro Bat Masjid Road and Nawabganj Road have been infected with the COVID-19, Lalbagh Police Station Inspector Aslam Hossain said.

The authorities have locked down five buildings on Boro Bat Masjid Road and Crescent Club Lane of Nawabganj Road.

Lockdowns have been imposed on six neighbourhoods in Mohammadpur and Adabor after several COVID-19 patients were detected, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rowshanul Haque Saikat said.

These are near Krishi Market, Minar Masjid neighbourhood of Tajmahal Road, Razia Sulta Road, Babar Road, and some buildings in Basila and Adabor.

The authorities have sealed the areas with red ribbons and put red flags. Workers are also making announcements through megaphones to make people aware of the developments.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Sudeep Kumar Chakrabarty said a building in North Badda has been locked down after a patient was detected there.

They have also imposed lockdown on another building with eight families in Bashundhara Residential Area after a resident tested positive for the coronavirus.

Mentioning that April is a crucial month regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said anybody with symptoms of coronavirus infection must see a doctor and must not hide symptoms.

"Please don't conceal the disease and you may infect others if you hide it and it's not a matter of shame … we've made all kinds of arrangements for the treatment and we've also taken steps for protecting those who will provide treatment to the COVID-19 patients," she said.

She said this while discussing the outbreak with public representatives and officials of the 15 districts of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions via video conference from the Gono Bhaban.

Hasina said the whole world has become stagnant as COVID-19 spread to 202 countries and territories.

"From the beginning, we tried to stem the outbreak of the disease and protect the people from its impact," she said.

"If we see the trend of its spread in the world, it's like mathematics and if we gather the experience of other countries, the country may face massive blow of it in this April and we're getting this symptoms and reports," she said.

She went on to say: "In this situation, we've to remain more cautious and move in such a way so that the people are less affected by its impact."

Hasina exchanged views with ministers, MPs, deputy commissioners, police superintendents, mayors, chairmen, civil surgeons, imams, doctors, nurses and others.

Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam, PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and PMO Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Mian were present.

https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/crucial-month-pm-1890772