Coronavirus-infected Bangladeshi in ‘critical state’: Foreign minister

One of the Bangladesh citizens, infected with coronavirus or COVID-19 in Singapore, is now in a “very critical state” and medicine given to him is not responding, said foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday.

Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan conveyed the updates during a telephone conversation with Abdul Momen on Wednesday morning, reports news agency UNB.

“They (Singapore government) are doing the best to take care of him (Bangladesh citizen) with top medical services,” Momen told newsmen after attending a function in the capital.

The 39-year-old Bangladesh citizen had been suffering from respiratory, kidney problem and phenomena before he got infected with the coronavirus, the minister said.

The infected Bangladeshi has been in the intensive care unit for the last 13 days.

“He (Singapore foreign minister) informed that medicine given to Bangladesh citizen isn’t responding,” Momen said adding that the Singapore authorities remain very sensitive and supportive to Bangladesh community in Singapore.

The Singapore government is bearing all the medical cost for the infected Bangladesh citizens who are undergoing treatment there.

“I assure you we’ll do whatever necessary on our own cost,” Momen quoted the Singapore foreign minister as saying.

The foreign minister also inquired about the process if the Bangladeshi loses the battle for life and his family members subsequently seek his body back.

In reply, the Singapore foreign minister said, “Yes, we’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

For maintaining privacy of the patient, the Singapore authorities do not want to make the name public but shared it with foreign minister Momen.

Five Bangladesh citizens have so far been infected with coronavirus in Singapore, according to Singapore health ministry.