In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has taken adequate health safety measures by adhering to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Awareness and Cleanliness
In early March, all staff was briefed and oriented on health safety protocol at an urgent staff meeting in view of the outbreak of the coronavirus. CPD administration has supplied hand sanitizers on all office floors and at the office entrance and provided masks to each and every staff. CPD has been using the anti-bacterial spray and following -up cleaning of the office premises and its vehicles very closely. Full office premises, lift, all doors and all visible objects are cleaned regularly by the anti-septic. Additionally, visitors are discouraged to visit CPD office premises during this critical time.
Work Mode
As the COVID-19 situation has been deteriorating every day, CPD management announced “Work From Home” (WFH) mode from 19th March 2020 and continued to do so till 25th March. CPD office remained closed on 26th March, a national holiday to observe the Independence Day of Bangladesh and on 27th and 28th March 2020 as those were weekends. Meanwhile, the government of Bangladesh, on 22nd March 2020 declared a nationwide shut down from 26th March to 4th April 2020 to fight the spread of the coronavirus. During the public holidays, CPD closed its office and staff have been advised to stay at home. However, CPD management continues to work from home towards delivering its commitments in due time.
Though CPD cancelled all meetings and events with physical presence, the Centre continues to hold such programmes through virtual modes with the help of technology (see below – CPD’s virtual media briefing on COVID-19).
Future Plan for CPD’s Work
CPD is closely observing the development of the COVID-19 situation and will take decisions on the work mode in the coming days accordingly. In mid-March, CPD management formed a seven-member Crisis Management Team (CMT) to monitor the COVID-19 situation, gather information and updates on the situation and advise the staff. The administration and finance division in consultation with the CMT has been managing the WFH period efficiently by providing all administrative and logistical support to CPD staff.
We will keep you updated regularly on our future events, meetings and media briefings through alerts on our website (www.cpd.org.bd) and through email.
We wish all our partners, network members, friends and well-wishers all the very best during this troubled time. We also wish that you stay safe and well.