Yesterday armed people tried to storm in Michigan state governor office to force him to withdraw lockdown. In the US, there is debate about whether to follow science and continue to lockdown, while other groups supported by Trump urging to the withdrawal of lockdown and to resume economic activities.
But, I am sure that will not be happened in Bangladesh, people are already realizing the situation and are adjusted to the alternative life.
We had to open Garments; they are enforcing corona safety rules; we need foreign currency to import pieces of machinery and others, and we cannot lose market to countries like Vietnam and others.
But the exit from lockdown does not mean we will fully exit from Corona, until all people vaccinated, which might be the middle of 2021.
We have to continue with anti-Corona measures, which is not only physical distance, it is with individual and house rules on anti corona measures like hand washing, wearing a mask, etc.
I strongly believe that before the withdrawal of lockdown, with the speed we have to increase the test, we have to give an enormous boost to our existing health facilities; we have to strengthened both home-based and institutional quarantine process; we have to take strong measures for disinfections, especially in road and transport sectors.
We have to do a lockdown exit gradually and with careful sequencing.
First and foremost important is the full opening of our supply and production chain, it is already partially opened, agricultural product price is more or less stable especially in town, thanks to government.
In all level, both private and public sector, we have to strictly maintain disinfection, physical distancing, and basic biosafety rules, it is not only the government, but it is also our civic responsibility.
As banks are partially open, for the rural area, we should open economic lifeline microfinance institutions as it is the lifeline for on-farm and off-farm products and people, we have to keep the same speed in our agriculture products as past.
Countries like India and Vietnam, and some East European countries have already stopped food export.
I am sure we will not fall in a situation that, we will have dollars, but we might not be able to buy food from the international market.
Our Prime Minister is giving highest attention to our agriculture products, we are about to harvest Boro crops in the haor area.
India has extended lockdown until 17th May, but it has divided the country into red, yellow, and green zones. Red where the corona is increasing, they are following a full lockdown there. Yellow where the corona is stable, they are watching and taking careful steps, not full open, not full lockdown. Green where no corona or it is decreasing, they are opening economic activities.
Maybe we can take lessons from India. But as a citizen we have to understand that, full exit from Corona measures is impossible until all people are vaccinated, we have to live with Corona preventive health and biosafety rules.
Full exit from lockdown neither feasible nor possible, it has to be sequential, based on how we are rapidly strengthening our health facilities (including test, treatment, and quarantine) and balancing with what are the priority needs in our economic activities.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
COAST Trust
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