Bangladesh Army members are working relentlessly across the country as front-line fighters to prevent the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

After their deployment in late March, army troops are busy implementing the government’s orders to assist civil administration in fighting the disease.           
More than 5,500 army personnel are now working at field level to help local administration in 62 districts from local cantonments.

Army members are patrolling different areas to support local administration to ensure social distancing and keep coronavirus suspects in home quarantine to fight the further spread of Covid-19.

Various units of Bangladesh Army distributed food items to the poor and helpless families in districts amid the corona crisis.

Members of Bangladesh Army also arranged ‘1 Minute Bazar’ in various places to help the poor and helpless people during the pandemic.

The poor people of the nearby areas come to the markets and collected necessary items free of cost, maintaining social distancing and other hygiene within one minute.

Besides, army members reach food items at the doorsteps of the poor people in remote areas.
Members of Bangladesh Army also provide health safety items, including masks, hand sanitizers and gloves, for the poor people.

They also use loudspeakers to aware people about the deadly coronavirus. Using loudspeakers, they urge people, especially those who come back from abroad, to stay home, maintain social distancing, live clean life and cooperate with the government to combat coronavirus.

Not only that, but they also paste posters and festoons on their patrol cars where they have written – ‘Do not go out of your houses unnecessarily and live a clean life’.

Members of Bangladesh Army also spray disinfectants in different places across the country, including the capital.

Rashedul Alam Khan, assistant director at the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate, told daily sun, “Around 5,500 army members dividing in 450 teams have been deployed across the country. They are working with the local administration to control the spread of coronavirus.”

“Army members are carrying out their activities from their cantonments without setting up camps outside. But if needed, we will set up camps,” he added.

Recently, Bangladesh Army have been given the charge to supervise a 1,000-bed isolation unit dedicated to Covid-19 patients at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) market in Mohakhali area of the capital.

The Armed Forces will coordinate the overall activities with assistance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Patients (mild cases), shifted from other hospitals, will be admitted to this hospital. They will be shifted to nearby specialised hospitals if their conditions deteriorate.

Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed delivered instructive speeches to all members of Bangladesh Army on various important issues, including the corona situation and tackling the aftermath of cyclone Amphan through video teleconferencing, on June 25.

The army chief has extended thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on behalf of all the army members for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation in this corona crisis period.

“The honourable prime minister has waged a war on coronavirus. We are soldiers and we are doing our best to dedicate ourselves to the welfare of the country and its people as directed by the government,” he said.

He has lauded the hard work and human attitudes of all doctors, health workers and members of all ranks of the army engaged in dealing with the corona crisis.