Coronavirus hits police, 73 cases in DMP alone
The number of coronavirus cases among the police is on a steady rise. In Dhaka Metropolitan Police alone, 73 have tested positive. These include three general employees who work in the police department.
The police members who have contracted the virus include 1 ADC, 3 SI, 1 sergeant, 5 ASI, 3 general employees, and the rest are constables. Most of the infected policemen are of the public order management department (POM). A total of 14 members of POM north zone have tested positive and 6 of the POM east zone.
DMP commissioner Shafiqul Islam told Prothom Alo that the police members who have contracted coronavirus were all on public duty. They had come in contact with people and had been infected. He said that they needed to be more cautious while on duty, adding that precautionary measures for the police had been adopted from the outset. These are being strengthened further.
The next most infected are in the police welfare and force department, with 12 cases. There are 9 cases in the west traffic department.
Police officials said along with the 8 crime units of the metropolitan police, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in 21 police departments including transport, protection, development, detective branch and the special action group.
Members of the police are on continuous patrol to ensure social distancing and monitor the lockdown situation in order to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. They are also spraying the roads with antiseptic, helping the working class people, taking people to hospital and finding people who have run away from quarantine. They do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), making them vulnerable to the infection.
DMP commissioner Shafiqul Islam told Prothom Alo that the police members who have contracted coronavirus were all on public duty. They had come in contact with people and had been infected. He said that they needed to be more cautious while on duty, adding that precautionary measures for the police had been adopted from the outset. These are being strengthened further. Police members who may have been infected, are being isolated. A 100-bed facility has been prepared or them at the Demra temporary police line. Quarantine and isolation facilities have also been set up in the Rajarbagh and Mirpur guest reception areas.