Experts have strongly suggested a well-designed exit plan before withdrawal of the nationwide lockdown to ease people's movement and economic activities, as the fresh spell of restrictions caused various disruptions.
The country needs a lockdown exit plan to determine how to respond post-lockdown period and gradual normalisation of economic activities as well as to fight against the virus outbreak, said public health experts and economists.
The government imposed the fresh restrictions amid surge in virus infection, while detection of Indian variants caused further concern over the pandemic situation in the country.
However, millions of homebound people left Dhaka and are now returning to the overcrowded city, although a nationwide 'strict' lockdown has been in place since April 5.
Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director (disease control) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the FE that the government should focus on ensuring proper quarantine and isolation process across the country to control the disease, as millions of people left Dhaka and they are now returning amid possibilities of spreading Covid-19.
"We can incorporate a local lockdown instead of national lockdown and lock inter-district borders, considering regional or local infection scenario. We can lock the border districts and strengthen patrolling, so that the Indian variants could not spread further," he suggested as a rollout plan.
"Besides, we have to trace out those who had left Dhaka, visited rural areas and returned to the city, so that we can determine who and which areas could be more vulnerable to infection."
He also criticised the government's lack of preparation to handle such a rush during the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
"We could have arranged a system to take back those people who left Dhaka, as their number was as many as 10 million, according to officials," he said with frustration, citing no plan is yet in place to address these loopholes.
Besides, priority determination for the mass inoculation programme is another major concern for the exit plan from the lockdown, the expert mentioned.
"I have already forwarded a suggestion to the government to inoculate people working at public transports, shopping malls and educational institutes before withdrawal of the lockdown to avoid virus transmission. These are among the major areas of gathering and possible infection," Dr Be-Nazir added.
Mushtaq Hossain, a virologist and chief advisor at the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told the FE that the authorities concerned should hold technical meetings with all related stakeholders for formulating a combined people-friendly plan.
Otherwise, people will not comply with health guidelines, as the lockdown is related with the country's economy. People left the capital to cope with economic hardships that they were facing due to the pandemic.
Mushtaq Hossain urged the government to act considerably, so that people follow proper health guidelines; otherwise the prevailing situation would worsen further.
"We didn't make a decision regarding the existing lockdown based on reality and economic condition of people and the country, including during this Eid," he observed.
Khondaker Golam Moazzem, senior research fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told the FE that (future of) the present situation depends on two major factors.
The first is possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic that might be deadlier, if the Indian variants spread across the country, and the second is success of the mass vaccination programme.
"We need all the plans to ensure receiving and providing vaccines properly, as there is a crisis across the globe to avail vaccines due to shortage of sufficient production."
"We can take short and mid-term plans to address the pandemic-related crisis, as the world still doesn't know much about the deadly virus and its changing characters."
Providing the government's stimulus package to the affected people and business groups, and running social safety net programmes are among the short-term plans.
However, fund disbursement from the stimulus packages is a challenge, and local administration and NGOs can be incorporated in the process, he pointed out.
"We need precise data of the affected people, and thus the government can prepare a national database with the help of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics shortly to find the right people."
"Besides, we should have financial preparation or budget allocation, as we could incorporate lockdowns many times, and have proper projects at local level to create employment as mid-term plans, starting with a timeframe between six months and two years."
Export-oriented industries and businesses, including garment and SMEs, should be given priority, as these cover large areas of the country's economy.
"Short-term planning and decision making in a quick manner along with implementing decisions smoothly through right coordination are now lacking in Bangladesh. These are certainly needed during the pandemic, as the virus doesn't give much time to think," the economist concluded.
The National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19, earlier this month, also suggested the government to finalise a lockdown exit plan.
Prof Nasima Sultana of the DGHS told the FE: "We are observing the lockdown situation, and we will forward suggestions to the government soon after having consultations with public health experts and the NTAC."
She, however, was unsure of such initiative before the next Muslim festival Eid-ul-Azha.
nsrafsanju@gmail.com