Mahmud Hossain Opu: A Nation with No Cure

Overview

As with the rest of the world, the impact of the pandemic on Bangladesh was sudden and forceful. The nation’s economy is hugely centred around the capital city of Dhaka, and the magnitude of Covid-19 resulted in sweeping losses of jobs and livelihoods there, with the poorest being hit the hardest. The initial public response to the pandemic was timely: Dhaka’s streets and roads ordinarily never free of traffic or pedestrian activity quickly became deserted towards the end of March 2020.

The pandemic exposed the country’s incredibly fragile health care system. Hospital wards, completely unprepared, were soon overflowing with distressed patients. As complacency grew not long after initial efforts, with roads and highways becoming crowded all over again, the government’s top priority soon focused on mandatory mask-wearing.