バングラデシュでの新型コロナウイルスの影響
【2020年3月の活動報告】
By March, we distributed approximately 1.09 million meals (progress rate: 52.0%) against Euglena cookie distribution target of 2.1 million meals for this term (October 2019-September 2020).
1. Impact of the new coronavirus in Bangladesh
A new type of coronavirus that is rampant all over the world. In Bangladesh, the first domestically infected person was confirmed on March 8 in the capital Dhaka. On March 15, the Bangladesh government announced that it would suspend the issuance of arrival visas (Note 1) regardless of nationality as a measure against the spread of the new coronavirus infection. The following day, on the 16th, we instructed all educational institutions to be closed from March 17th. Since the start of the GENKI program in April 2014, this closure Euglena cookies at school for the first time for a long time.
The Bangladeshi government has taken further preventive measures against the spread of the infection in rapid succession. Announced that in principle all government agencies and offices will be suspended from March 26th. We requested the people to take voluntary quarantine measures (waiting at home, etc.) and stopped public transportation such as buses and railroads. Furthermore, from April 8th, lockdown (city blockade) was carried out in multiple cities including the capital city of Dhaka, where the spread of infection is progressing. Our local subsidiary was no exception, and the Bangladesh office was closed, forcing all employees to wait at home. Since the Bangladeshi police basically prohibited movement between the target city and the suburbs except in an emergency, there were cases where outsiders were inspected by police officers.
School teachers and students are also suffering from confusion and anxiety as Bangladesh is surrounded by a tense atmosphere. At Turag Elementary School, a school targeted for the GENKI program in Dhaka, some teachers returned to their hometowns as soon as they were closed, but said they could not return to Dhaka after the lockdown was announced. In addition, the principal of the school, El Shad, frequently calls the parents of the students, hoping that no infected people will occur in the students' homes after the school is closed. "Many families have left Dhaka and returned to their hometowns. If they can't get in touch with their cell phones, I'm worried about what their students are doing," he said. In addition, Amin (11 years old), a fifth grader at Matrichai Elementary School, a school targeted for the GENKI program in Dhaka, told me about his anxiety in his chest as follows. "If I can't get out of the house because of lockdown, I feel like I'm in prison. I know I can't help it because I don't get infected, but I can't stand it day by day. Even if my mom tells me to study, I concentrate. I can't, and I really miss it because I loved chatting with my friends at school. "
The spread of the new coronavirus is depriving children of educational opportunities and the freedom to play outside in Bangladesh, as in Japan. Under such circumstances, there are many teachers who carefully teach students living in slums, where the living environment is not good, the importance of maintaining hygiene such as washing hands over the phone, and encourage them mentally. "Currently, there is no sign of children having fun playing in the playground. I sincerely look forward to the end of the coronavirus and the delight of the students going to school. Until then, I will stay in touch with the students and parents over the school. I will protect it, "said Principal El Shad. We will also carefully prepare for the delivery of Euglena cookies, hoping for an early resumption of school.
(Note 1) Arrival visa
Visas are generally issued after application to diplomatic missions abroad (embassies, consulates, etc.) before travel, but arrival visas (Visa on Arrival) are obtained at the airport after arriving at the destination airport.
| Outbreaks of new coronavirus infections in Bangladesh | Number of infected people | Number of deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1,231 | 50 |
* As of April 16, 2020 Source: World Health Organization (WHO) https://covid19.who.int/
Photo-1: Turag Elementary School (front) closed
Photo-2: Turag Elementary School (classroom) closed
Photo-3: Euglena cookies stored on campus
Photo-4: Main road in Dhaka where only rickshaws run
Photo-5: Quiet city of Dhaka ①
Photo-6: Quiet city of Dhaka ②
Thank you for your continued support.
Euglena Co., Ltd.
Overseas Business Development Department / Bangladesh Office