Facilities For Poor People During Quarantine

Project 1

Course Name: Communication Research Course Code: MSJ11102 Project Type: Research Proposal Project Name: Facilities For Poor People During Quarantine Project Date: Summer 2020

Project Description:

This research proposal was developed for the course Communication Research MSJ11102 during Summer 2020 as an individual academic project. The study focuses on the challenges faced by poor and marginalized communities in Bangladesh during COVID 19 quarantine, particularly in accessing food and basic necessities. The topic was selected due to the visible socio economic inequalities intensified during lockdown and the urgent need to examine institutional responses. Using a qualitative approach, the proposal outlines how government bodies, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and NGOs contributed to relief efforts, while also identifying gaps in support systems for vulnerable populations during crisis situations.

Project Justification:

The topic is significant because it highlights the intersection of public health measures and socio economic vulnerability in Bangladesh. By focusing on poor communities during quarantine, the project addresses an urgent communication gap regarding policy effectiveness and humanitarian response. It also demonstrates how research can contribute to understanding public needs and improving future crisis communication and intervention strategies.

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Program : Communication Research Course Code : MSJ11102 Semester : Summer 2020

Research proposal on

Facilities For Poor People During Quarantine

Submitted to :

Nandita Tabassum Khan Senior Lecturer Department of Media Studies & Journalism University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)

Submitted by:

Name: Fahteen Hossain

ID: 201012076

Submitted Date :

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Facilities For Poor People During Quarantine

INTRODUCTION: Quarantine is a period of isolation due to different diseases or outbreaks. This is mainly conducted for controlling the massive spread of the disease. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 quarantine has become a known figure to all of us. Doctors mainly suggest that an infected patient should be isolated from a mass gathering for 7-14 days and take necessary step prescribed by the doctor/physician as per need. With almost every country adopting aggressive non-therapeutic measures to control the spread of nCoV-2, Bangladesh in South-eastern Asia has followed the same trend; however, there is an ongoing debate as to whether measures have been adopted adequately and implemented efficiently. The country confirmed the first COVID-19 case in its territory on March 7, though many experts speculated that nCoV-2 may have entered the country earlier than that but had not been detected due to inadequate monitoring. As of April 13, the country had reported 803 cases of COVID-19, and the death toll stood at 39. However, concerns have been raised that extreme insufficiency of testing assays may be leaving many cases undetected in the country. In response to the emergence of the virus, Bangladesh admittedly reduced international flights, imposed thermal scanner checking, and shut down schools; however, offices maintained their regular schedules until March 26. The situation in Bangladesh is rapidly evolving, and it is comparable with many other countries, e.g., France, Japan, which have lately seen a devastating impact from the virus. In this situation, most sensible governments would opt for a total lockdown for an undeclared time at very high financial costs under the precept that lives should be saved first and counting the loss to businesses may wait. Some countries, e.g., Italy and Spain, have already adopted such measures. In fact, with no effective therapeutic strategies available for COVID-19, lockdown is perhaps the best-known measure that could mitigate the situation. However, in Bangladesh, where a significant proportion of the total population lives hand to mouth, lockdown is not a feasible idea. With no savings and work, how will poor and marginal people feed themselves if there is a prolonged lockdown? This is an issue that the Government must address when declaring any lockdown or emergency that may stay in place for 2 or more weeks. With help from the armed forces, the Government may think about starting a “hygienic” rationing system in case of locking down for a more extended period. The New York Times published an interesting article on the hunger problem around the globe. “Instead of coronavirus hunger will kill us” in this article the food crisis of the whole world was showcased by the journalists of the New York times. It also stated that “The coronavirus pandemic has brought hunger to millions of people around the world. National lockdowns and social distancing measures are drying up work and incomes are likely to disrupt agricultural production and supply routes — leaving millions to worry how they will get enough to eat.”0

Contribution of the government in the food crisis of Bangladesh: The government will assist the urban low-income people, those who are affected due to the coronavirus outbreak, under ‘Ghor a Fera Kormosuchi’ and the district administrations have been instructed in this regard. The district administrations have also been instructed to provide food and assistance to the poor people if they are affected due to the implementation of coronavirus prevention programmes When the government signalled, they would distribute food to the poor, community leaders from CDCs created lists of the most vulnerable residents: widows, pregnant or lactating mothers, disabled people, or those who couldn't afford food. These lists helped ensure food assistance and donations went to those in desperate need and not the better off. As being isolated from society people often get into several obstacles. Food is one of the main problems here in Bangladesh. Being a developing country Bangladesh cannot provide that much support to peoples dealing with the corona-virus situation. The day laborers, hawkers, and the lower cast people are mainly affected by this. As these people get their wages precariously so if they get infected their family suffers from financial crisis. And the problems lead to more problems. And during this outbreak the economy also suffers a huge loss because of the terror of being affected by the coronavirus. So, people feel scared to go to work. The government of Bangladesh is trying to support the poor peoples of our country by conducting different types of programs. Law enforcement officers are delivering free food to the doorsteps of the poor people. The role of Red crescent Society in helping the poor people during Quarantine: Red Crescent volunteers provide food to another 1,500 people per day outside the capital. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has engaged its 68 countrywide units and has set up 10,179 basins across Bangladesh to encourage people to wash their hands. "We do not depend on government or any non-government allocation," said Hasan Shahid, adding, "Instead, the volunteers fund the social works on their own." He told The Business Standard, "We raised funds from our members when the lockdown began. We distributed leaflets and prepared a list of the destitute. We distribute food everyday according to the list." Hasan said they cook and pack the meals themselves. "We cook the food giving hygiene the highest priority." The Red Crescent Society supplies the food in their own vehicles. At the same time, they update the list of the poor and the destitute.

The role of Non-Government Organizations in helping the poor people during Quarantine: The current COVID-19 pandemic is affecting workers globally, including those employed in the shipbreaking sector. In Bangladesh, authorities have imposed strict lockdowns which have particularly impacted the most vulnerable part of the workforce: the migrant workers. Deprived of accessing the meagre government support which is offered to local workers, and in most cases not having been paid their March salaries, migrant workers have furthermore been unable to return to their home villages as all public transport is closed. Forced to continue to pay rent for the unsanitary and improper accommodation near the shipbreaking yards, the migrant workers, mainly from the Northwest of Bangladesh, have been left to starve. Given this unprecedented emergency situation, we decided to act. Thanks to the financial support received via our call for donations, our local member organisation OSHE Foundation managed to distribute food and personal protective equipment items to 130 of the most deprived shipbreaking workers’ families. Each family, comprising at least four members, received a package containing rice, potatoes, wheat flour, dal (dried, split pulses), cooking oil, salt, sugar, tea, potato, onion, chana dal (chickpeas), moori (puffed rice), one re-usable face mask and hand soap, ensuring subsistence for at least 10 to 15 days.

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Learnings:

• First experience writing a research proposal and understanding basic research structure
• Learned to identify problems and link real world issues with research topics
• Limited practical understanding due to quarantine restrictions
• Realized the need for deeper analysis and clearer approach
• Improved academic writing and critical thinking skills
• Built a foundation for future research work

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