DHAKA, March 30, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed
profound sadness for Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who has been
infected with novel coronavirus, and reiterated Bangladesh’s stand to work
with the UK diaspora to fight the lethal disease.
In a letter sent to Prince Charles on Sunday, who is also a very good
friend of Bangladesh, the prime minister lauded his (Prince Charles) dynamic
leadership, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.
“I have always commended with great admiration your personal and
institutional leadership towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals,
and the conservation of our common heritage and the environment,” Sheikh
Hasina said.
The premier said she is eagerly expecting Prince’s recovery which is much
needed for his whole-hearted campaign and advocacy for addressing the water
and the climate crisis, and also his invaluable philanthropy work to champion
the education and livelihoods of young people within the Commonwealth.
Materialising potential on two-third youth, Sheikh Hasina warmly welcomed
the inauguration of the British Asian Trust in Bangladesh for promoting
social enterprise, livelihoods and mental health of young people, issues that
are receiving high priority in Bangladesh’s national sustainable development
agenda.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is ready to work with the diaspora in
UK in the common fight against curbing the spread of novel coronavirus or
Covid-19 and its aftermath.
Sheikh Hasina also apprised the Prince of the domestic Covid-19 situation
and also the preemptive measures taken to save the people of Bangladesh from
being affected by this invisible deadly virus.
“Our government acted very seriously with strongest preventive measures
from the very early stages of the global outbreak including screening of
passengers on arrival at the airport and introduction of dedicated quarantine
zones near the airport as early as January 2020,” she said.
The premier said she personally suspended all celebrations and gatherings
for the long-cherished birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, shut down all educational institutions and
announced full lockdown from 25 March advising people to stay at home.
“We’ve designated hospitals and fully equipped health professionals to
handle affected patients. Due to all these extreme measures, we have been
able to contain Covid-19-affected confirmed cases in Bangladesh to 48, with 5
unfortunate deaths and 15 recoveries,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina wished Prince Charles full recovery from Covid-19 at the
soonest and the continued peace, progress and prosperity for the people of
the United Kingdom.