Cop dies of COVID-19 for first time in Bangladesh

A policeman died of coronavirus at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in Dhaka on Tuesday night.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has confirmed this, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

This is the first death of any policeman in the country from the contagious virus.

The deceased Jasim Uddin, 40, is a resident of Burichang, Cumilla. He was survived by two daughters and a son.

According to DMP officials, Jasim contracted coronavirus while on duty at Wari outpost. Another policeman, who worked with him at the outpost and got infected too, is doing well.

Jasim showed coronavirus symptoms a few days ago, said Shah Iftekhar Ahmed, deputy commissioner at DMP Wari division.

On suspicion of COVID-19, Jasim was sent to quarantine in a hotel at Fakirapur, he added.

Samples collected from his body were sent to IEDCR on 25 April, but his condition had deteriorated before the report was received. On 28 April, he was sent to DMCH where the physicians declared him dead around 10:30pm.

After his death, the test report arrived, he said.

Coronavirus cases are increasing among the DMP officials with a total of confirmed cases 281 till 29 April.

Among the infected, 12 are women. The confirmed patients have been admitted to Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital.

The detected policemen are from 22 departments including DMP criminal department, transport, protection, development, investigation, special action and so on.

According to police officials, police members regularly patrol to ensure social distancing rules and lockdown. They also spray disinfect on the roads and assist people. While carrying out such tasks, they contract coronavirus unknowingly.

Among the policemen, the highest number is infected from Rajarbagh Police Line—one of the 10 COVID-19 hot spots in the capital identified by the health ministry.