Satkhira man dies as police halts son carrying oxygen

A 65-year-old man died with Covid symptoms in Satkhira Thursday after a policeman allegedly held back his son for two hours who was carrying an oxygen cylinder for his father, UNB reports.

Oliul Islam, son of deceased Md Rajab Ali Morol, said he brought the cylinder from a trader in Satkhira town as his father urgently needed oxygen.

On his way home, Subhash Chandra, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Itagachha police outpost, stopped him as he was out on the road amid stringent lockdown.

“The ASI demanded Tk 1,000 as fine from me. I was pulled over for two hours as I did not have the money. Later, the ASI settled for Tk 200 as a local interfered. But it was too late,” Oliul said.

“My father had already died due to oxygen shortage when I finally managed to return home with the cylinder,” he said.

However, ASI Shubhash said, “I stopped Oliul as he was driving his motorcycle at a high speed and had no documents. But I did not hold him back for too long when I came to know that his father urgently needed oxygen.”

Satkhira Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Delwar Hossain said, “We have heard about the incident; an investigation is underway.”