Most of the committees formed by the government to deal with the Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh are now ineffective, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has observed.
It has mentioned that bureaucrats dominate some committee decisions while there is a lack of coordination in incorporating some other people into committees.
The anti-graft watchdog made the account in its second report on “Governance Challenges in Tackling Coronavirus” released on Tuesday.
After the novel coronavirus hit Bangladesh in March, the government formed 43 committees in order to tackle the pandemic.
“Most of them are now ineffective except the Technical Advisory Committee,” the TIB said.
The report added that members of some committees were included without consent, and some of them were not informed about the abolishment of the committees while the same members were included in 4-5 different committees.
The TIB alleged that the government’s high officials, bureaucrats to be specific, are taking important decisions bypassing the technical committee.
The report explained that the country’s fight against the lethal virus was not properly following two relevant laws — The Disaster Management Act, 2012, and The Communicable Disease (Prevention, Control and Elimination) Act, 2018.
Such failure has resulted in the unnecessary formation of “too many” committees on Covid-19, the TIB pointed out.
It also criticised the nine-member task force, formed for monitoring progress of coronavirus prevention activities, for not having a single physician in it.
The report referred to the World Health Organization’s fear that coronavirus infections could become more severe in the coming winter. The National Technical Advisory Committee has echoed the same, suggesting full preparation to deal with the possible second wave in Bangladesh.
Officials, however, claimed that all preparations have been made for effective treatment during the possible second wave of Covid-19 in the coming winter, including the provision of intensive care units (ICUs) and necessary oxygen at district-level hospitals.
The report, quoting experts, said there are a number of challenges to dealing with the second wave.
According to the TIB, there is a serious lack of initiative for engaging the private sector in the fight against the deadly disease.
