Members of the Bangladesh armed forces are being deployed across the country to ensure social isolation to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Military officers already held meetings with district administrations to get to know their requirement of troops in their respective areas. Representatives of the armed forces have already started to recce different spots, especially quarantine places in districts for deploying the troops. Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) director Lt Col Abdullah Ibn Zaid said officers of the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Navy have started a recce and prepared a plan to deploy troops within a day or two in those areas to assist the civil administration to help check the spread of the coronavirus.
“Our forces will do their duties in coordination with the district administration and law enforcement agencies,” he added..
He also said that the Armed Forces Division (AFD) has been monitoring the activities of the troops to be deployed across the country. A high-ranking military officer said they have completed the recce at some places in Dhaka division to help ensure lockdown in those areas. The police headquarters has already asked their district and upazila offices to coordinate with the military, according to a senior police official.
“We’ll tell the military about the coronavirus-infected people and quarantine centres to ensure lockdown in the areas concerned,” he said. When contacted, a senior officer of Ansar and VDP told The Independent that they have already asked their district commanders to extend support to the armed forces. “Our members are already hoisting red flags in front of all quarantine centres. They are also building awareness about the coronavirus,” he said.
Sources in the Armed Forces Division (AFD) said almost one battalion of the Bangladesh Army would be deployed in most of the districts. Members of the Bangladesh Navy would be deployed in the coastal districts. The Bangladesh Air Force will use their helicopters to help deploy troops in remote areas and help evacuate patients immediately, if needed.
