Coronavirus: Bidyanondo sprays disinfectant in vehicles, distributes hand sanitisers

Amid the fear of spread of coronavirus, non-profit organisation Bidyanondo Foundation sprayed disinfectant in buses and motorised three-wheelers in the capital's Mirpur on Tuesday. 

Volunteers also distributed hand sanitisers among pedestrians. 

Anti-germ spray was sprayed in 30 buses and 15 motorised three-wheelers. 

From Wednesday morning, the measure will be scaled up if the organisation can complete its work on producing hand sanitisers and disinfectant spray tonight, said Sirazam Munira, one of the volunteers.

"All the raw materials were purchased on Tuesday and production was underway. If more people volunteer, it will be possible to expand the initiative," she added.

In a social media post, the foundation said, "We do not know how much we will be able to do to prevent coronavirus, but we are trying to stand by the people to encourage them."

People are at the highest risk of contracting the virus while travelling in public transports, it said.

This is why we took the initiative, it added.

Apart from the move, the foundation also distributed free masks to disadvantaged children and ran campaigns in schools on how to wash hands and maintain cleanliness to keep the disease away. 

The organisation also installed water taps outside one of its branches so that people passing by can wash hands. 

Its employee, Salman Khan, said, "We are a small organisation. It may not be possible for us to reach out to all city dwellers. But if others come forward and follow us, it will not be impossible to cover the entire city."