‘Wear a mask or go to jail’

The government is considering a “wear a mask or go to jail” policy from next week to tackle the second wave of Covid-19.

The issue was discussed during the weekly cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday afternoon, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The prime minister attended the meeting virtually from Ganabhaban, while the other ministers and secretaries took part at the secretariat.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting, which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended virtually, on Monday, November 30, 2020 | Focus Bangla

The cabinet secretary said: “We are going to take stricter action against those who refuse to wear masks to prevent coronavirus infections. From now on, if anybody does not wear a mask in a public place, the maximum fine will be imposed. This strategy will be observed for the next 8 to 10 days. After that, if some people still refuse to wear masks in public places, then jail terms may be considered.”

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Responding to a question, the cabinet secretary said: “No new law will be needed for the imprisonment provision. This section is already in our existing penal code.
“We have also instructed the field administration to bring cloth masks when operating mobile courts, so that people can get some reusable masks,” he added.

Khandker Anwarul Islam also shared a picture of news clipping that was shown at the meeting.

“This news clipping is about the Spanish flu, it was published 100 years ago. It says ‘wear a mask or go to jail.’ Europe used this strategy 100 years ago, and now we are considering this strategy,” he said.