Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Bangla New Year-1427, calling upon them to maintain social distancing to tackle coronavirus, reports BSS.
“This time, keeping social distancing should be our pledge of Bangla Noboborsho. We continue our fight against coronavirus under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and we will win the war,” he told a video message issued on the occasion of Bangla Noboborsho.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said Pahela Baishakh is the traditional festival of Bangalees and the people from all walks of life welcome the Bangla New Year on this day.
Terming Pahela Baishakh a universal cultural festival of Bangalees, he said the non-communal spirit of Bangalees is depicted in this festival.
“This year, we are celebrating Pahela Baishakh in such a time when the deadly coronavirus is putting its clutch on people (infecting them),” Quader said.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced the ‘stay at home programme’ to contain the spread of the lethal virus and “we will defeat the virus by staying at homes”.
The AL general secretary also said coronavirus is a highly infectious virus and it has no antidote. “That’s why, social distancing is the main way to prevent the deadly virus,” he added.