Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said livelihood activities need to be continued maintaining health hygiene amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The lives and livelihoods of people should go on. We can’t make people suffer. But it’s absolutely essential to follow health rules,” she said while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 71st foundation training course for BCS cadre officers.

The Prime Minister joined the event, held at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) in Savar, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

She urged the people of the country to take measures so that everyone follows the health safety rules.

“The coronavirus pandemic has reappeared and now we can see that blow. Though we’ve taken some instant measures, maybe we’ll have to take tougher steps to save people, and we’ll do so,” she said pointing at the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister urged all to keep themselves protected and make others protected following the health rules, including the use of face masks.

Pointing at the fresh cadre officers, the PM directed them to pay special attention so that everyone follows the health protection rules in their working areas where they are going to join.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain and Public Administration’s Senior Secretary Shaikh Yusuf Harun also spoke on the occasion.

BPATC Rector Rakib Hossain presented the report of the foundation training course. A total of 307 fresh cadre officers, including 89 women, participated in the course conducted at six cetnres in Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla and Bogura, and all of them successfully completed the training.

Among them, 31 participants – 18 male officers and 13 female officers– received the certificates of excellence in the training course.

The State Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over the certificates to the first three participants for their outstanding performances during the training.

The participants from other training centres were virtually connected with the function.