COVID spread in Chittagong Hill Tracts causes concern in bordering districts

A CORRESPONDENT

AGARTALA: Two South Tripura subdivisions — Sabroom and Karbook — bordering the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, are worried over the reported spread of coronavirus in the hilly districts of the neighboring country and in the Rohingya refugee camps in the foothills and Cox Bazar areas.

According to reports at least ten corona positive cases have been detected in the bordering districts of Khagrachari and Bandarban during the last two days; though unofficially, the sources say the cases are much more and also that the disease is spreading in other districts.

What is more concerning is the reported spread of the virus in the Rohingya refugee camps near Cox Bazar. Over 11 lakh Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are residing in 34 camps. It is apprehended that it will be difficult to tackle if the virus starts spreading in this biggest refugee habitation of the world.

There are reports of 24 positive cases in the hilly district of Matiranga. There are also reports of positive cases in remote Thanchi areas. It is presumed that all these cases are not being reflected in the official statistics of the COVID-19.

People in Sabroom and Karbook are worried about the spread of the virus in the bordering districts. The district authorities have tightened the security arrangement along the border to prevent all kinds of cross-border movement. But there are reports that infiltrations are still going on through some remote pockets.