‘No mask, no entry’ just on paper 
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
January 30, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023
‘No mask, no entry’ just on paper 

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Shawkat Ali
17 November, 2020, 12:15 pm
Last modified: 17 November, 2020, 02:24 pm

Related News

  • Dollar crisis halts paper raw materials import, hits printing industry hard
  • Paper Processing shares up 53% in 3 weeks
  • No mask, no service policy adopted again
  • After unusual price hikes, three OTC returnees’ shares dumped
  • Employees under Public Administration asked to wear masks

‘No mask, no entry’ just on paper 

Government orders have failed to mask people’s callous approach to virus safety

Shawkat Ali
17 November, 2020, 12:15 pm
Last modified: 17 November, 2020, 02:24 pm
Photo: Saikat Bhadra
Photo: Saikat Bhadra

The rush of people seeking services at Nagar Bhaban begins before 10 in the morning. People throng there for different purposes ranging from issuing trade licences to attending case hearings. 

All of them, apparently, share a common tendency – a reluctance to wear a face mask despite the looming fear of the second infection wave of the novel coronavirus. And the authorities also turn a blind eye to this as no one at the entrance of the city

corporation office forces people to comply with the virus safety measure.

The government, on 3 November, issued a circular to strictly implement the "No mask, no entry" order, after failing to implement the previously announced "No mask, no service" instruction.    

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) office entrance on Sunday did not have a "No mask, no entry" sign; even the security guards inside were roaming around without face coverings as if the pandemic was over.       

Businessman Shariful Islam was entering the office wearing his mask around his chin. "I had put the mask on for a long time. Therefore, I took it off for a while," he replied as he was reminded that face masks are mandatory in government offices.    

Another service seeker without a face covering was talking over the phone at the entrance. He was asked if he knew of the "No mask, no entry" order.

"I feel uncomfortable talking with a mask on. I will wear it when I go inside," he replied.       

In the meantime, DSCC Chief Executive Officer ABM Amin Ullah Nuri told The Business Standard that they held a meeting Sunday on virus safety measures taking the concerning situation into consideration.        

"No one will be allowed to enter the office without a face mask from Monday. Service seekers will also not be allowed to crowd the elevator. We will take up a massive campaign for the 'No mask, no entry' slogan," said the DSCC official.             

During a visit to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Dhaka's Khamarbari, the floors were found having the "No mask, no entry" banners. But, people at the government office were reluctant to put face masks on, and there was a measure, too, to force service seekers to comply with the virus safety rule.      

However, more people had face coverings at the DAE than the DSCC office. Again, some people without masks were seen entering the office, and they seemed not to have any concern over contracting the virus.

The lax approach to virus safety was common at other public offices in the capital while the picture of ignorance was also prominent in district headquarters.

People remained reluctant to put on a mask despite mobile courts fining shirkers. 

The Business Standard's (TBS) Sylhet correspondent said people in the divisional headquarters were reluctant to don face masks. 

Most of the people entered the office of the divisional commissioner Thursday without face coverings though the main entrance had a "No mask, no entry sign."   

"I have it [a mask] in my pocket. Wearing  a mask for a long time causes suffocation. I will put it on before entering the officer's room," said Misbaur Rahman, who came to the office from Balaganj upazila.     

Visiting Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Thursday around noon, most of the visitors to the hospital were found without face masks on. Even many patients were roaming around without face coverings.

While contacted, deputy director of the hospital Himanshu Lal Roy said, "We are telling everyone to wear masks. Patients without masks are being refused for outpatient treatment. We will be tougher in this regard."

Meanwhile, Sylhet Civil Surgeon Dr Premananda Mondal believes people need to be more aware about their health safety and should put on a mask for their own sake.

TBS' Khulna correspondent said there was not much of a change in peoples' lax approach to virus safety amid ongoing mobile court-led drives against shirkers.  

On 9 November, the Khulna district administration conducted drives at four points of the city by setting up mobile courts. On the first day of the raid, 58 people were held for not wearing face masks, and fines totalling Tk17,500 were issued.

Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Suzat Ahmed said people need to be aware, on their own, to tackle the second wave – which many fear will strike the country in winter.

Top News

Mask / entry / paper

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: Collected
    Economic slump drags down growth in VAT collection from big cos
  • It's corruption that bites business harder: CPD
    It's corruption that bites business harder: CPD
  • Import slowdown to affect economic growth: ADB country head
    Import slowdown to affect economic growth: ADB country head

MOST VIEWED

  • Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
    Incepta Pharma abandons Covid vaccine plan
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Tighter screening at ports urged as new Covid sub-variant BF.7 detected
  • Test tube labelled "Covid-19 Omicron variant test positive" is seen in this illustration picture taken 15 January, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    First case of new Covid sub-variant Omicron BF.7 detected in Bangladesh: IEDCR
  • Illustration: Collected
    Genome sequencing reports of Chinese nationals infected with Covid by Sunday: IEDCR
  • Computer image of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to Covid-19
    4 Chinese nationals detected with Covid at Dhaka airport
  • Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded
    Omicron BF7: Land ports still left unguarded

Related News

  • Dollar crisis halts paper raw materials import, hits printing industry hard
  • Paper Processing shares up 53% in 3 weeks
  • No mask, no service policy adopted again
  • After unusual price hikes, three OTC returnees’ shares dumped
  • Employees under Public Administration asked to wear masks

Features

Nandita Sharmin's journey to give organic skincare a new identity

Nandita Sharmin's journey to give organic skincare a new identity

13h | Mode
Illustration: TBS

'The silver lining is that the worst is sort of behind us': Hamid Rashid, UN economist

16h | Panorama
Photo: Bloomberg

BuzzFeed and AI are a match made in fad city

15h | Panorama
Snipe in flight. Photo: Enam Ul Haque

Baikka Beel: 'A world where snipe work late'

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Sarika Sabrin is waiting for a good film

Sarika Sabrin is waiting for a good film

6h | TBS Entertainment
Take your football game to the next level at Next Level academy

Take your football game to the next level at Next Level academy

7h | TBS SPORTS
“Investments risky without consistent policy, reliable data”- SK Bashir Uddin

“Investments risky without consistent policy, reliable data”- SK Bashir Uddin

9h | TBS Round Table
What does Shahrukh has in his 770 million dollar property?

What does Shahrukh has in his 770 million dollar property?

1d | TBS Entertainment

Most Read

1
Picture: Collected
Bangladesh

US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud

2
Illustration: TBS
Banking

16 banks at risk of capital shortfall if top 3 borrowers default

3
Photo: Collected
Splash

Hansal Mehta responds as Twitter user calls him 'shameless' for making Faraaz

4
A frozen Beyond Burger plant-based patty. Photographer: AKIRA for Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Special

Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad

5
Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!
Bangladesh

Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!

6
Representational Image
Banking

Cash-strapped Islami, Al-Arafah and National turn to Sonali Bank for costly fund

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net