Post Desk : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the authorities concerned to ensure proper screening and compulsory quarantine of the returnees from abroad in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 in Europe and many countries of the world.

“The time has come once again to make sure proper screening and (compulsory) quarantine of the returnees from abroad. Measures as taken before would have to be put in place again at each of the airports and other ports across the country to confirm whether anyone is entering the country with coronavirus,” she said.

The prime minister said this while addressing a function as the chief guest marking the “Bangabandhu National Youth Day-2020” organized by the Youth and Sports Ministry from her official Ganabhaban residence through a video conference.

She added: “We have to ensure proper protection of the people of our country and I hope that you (concerned government officials) will do that.”

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said many countries of the Europe have witnessed massive surge of the Covid-19 and was forced to introduce lockdown system again.

The premier however reminded all that they had earlier announced 31 points directives when the coronavirus was first approaching towards Bangladesh last March following its outbreak in Europe.
She continued that they had also announced 21 stimulus packages of Taka 1,12,633 crore mainly to keep running the country’s economy facing the worldwide stalemate due to the outbreak of the Covid-19.

“The world has got stuck due to the pandemic. We are taking all the measures bearing in mind that our economy isn’t stuck because of the lethal virus. For that reason, the country’s economy is still functioning. Many developed countries even can’t do this,” she said.

The premier once again urged the countrymen to follow the health guidelines properly to be protected from the virus, saying, “Wear mask in any kind of gathering to be protected from the coronavirus.”

On behalf of the Prime Minister, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, handed over Bangabandhu National Youth Award that included cash, certificate and crest to twenty one successful self-employed youths and five successful youth organisers in recognition to their exemplary contribution to creating employment for others.

Youth and Sports Secretary Mohammad Akhter Hossain gave the welcome address while two awardees Saifur Rahman and Samia Rahman expressed their feelings of winning the award on the occasion.

Commemorative stamps and envelopes were also unveiled on the occasion of Bangabandhu National Youth Day-2020 which is being observed across the country with the theme of “Mujib Borsho er Ahoban, Jubo Karmasangsthan”.

The youth day is observed on first November every year while the day has been named Bangabandhu National Youth Day on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.