Coronavirus: Not an issue of partisan politics, but of nat’l survival, says Dr Kamal

Bangladesh needs careful planning and decisive policymaking to limit public sufferings in the months and years ahead, Dr Kamal Hossain and Dr Reza Kibria have said in a statement.

"Our nation needs to prepare itself for a period of deprivation, economic disruption and a long and painful period of recovery," they said.

Both Kamal and Kibria came up with the statement following some recommendations placed by a group of 63 academics and researchers in their open letter yesterday.

"The global economic downturn is likely to be deeper and longer than at any time in the past century, so the indirect adverse impact of the downturn in trade and reduced external employment may be substantial," the statement said.

It also said: "The problem in Bangladesh is likely to be much worse for tens of millions of asset-less poor. It may therefore be necessary to feed tens of millions for months to prevent hunger, malnourishment (particularly of children) and starvation."

"The issue of how to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh is not one of partisan politics, but of national survival. In order to save lives, a strong and concerted policy response is needed," it added.