Two court officials with symptoms similar to those of Covid-19 have died while they were on duty for conducting virtual court.
Md Kawser, Jarikarok (messenger) at the Madaripur District Judge Court, died on June 18, and Mohiuddin Mohon, an office assistant at the Munshiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, died on June 19, Supreme Court spokesperson Mohammad Saifur Rahman confirmed on Saturday.
"Both of them were suffering from Covid-19 symptoms. Samples were collected from them, but the results are yet to come," he said.
In addition, a total of 103 personnel in the Supreme Court and subordinate courts across the country have tested positive for Covid-19 so far.
Of the infected, 24 are Supreme Court employees, while 20 are judges and 59 others are employees of various subordinate courts.
Six other judges, with symptoms of coronavirus infection, are staying in isolation.
According to the Supreme Court, Ferdous Ahmed, judge at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Lalmonirhat, is undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. He has been given plasma therapy.
Shamim Ahmed, judge at the Dhaka Special Session Judge Court 8, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) after she tested positive for coronavirus infection.
Md Rustom Ali, judge at the Woman and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Joypurhat, is also undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) for the infection.
Besides, a number of 15 infected judicial officers are receiving treatment at home.
They are -- Kishoreganj Woman and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Kiran Sankar Halder, Bhola District and Session Judge ABM Mahmudul Haque, Deputy Secretary at the Law and Justice Division S Mohammad Ali, Cox's Bazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Rejaul Karim, Barisal Additional District Judge Muhammad Mahbub Alam, Sylhet Joint District Judge Masud Parvez, Narayanganj Joint District Judge Masud Zaman, Kurigram Land Survey Tribunal Judge Md Toyub Ali, Assistant Judge Md Mehedi Hasan in Netrokona, Senior Judicial Magistrate in Chittagong Sipul Kumar Dey, Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Saleh Noman, Judicial Magistrate for Hatiya Chowki Court in Noakhali Md Nizamuddin, Dhaka Senior Assistant Judge Tosruzzaman, Khagrachhari Judicial Magistrate Md Hasan, and Special Magistrate at Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) 2 Rejmin Sultana.
Earlier, Netrokona District and Session Judge Shajahan Kabir and Munshiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate Begum Rokeya Rahman got infected with the disease on May 19. After having treatment, both of them recovered and resumed their offices.
However, a Supreme Court circular issued on June 16, said subordinate courts inside red zone areas will enjoy the government-declared general holidays. In such areas, only a few magistrates will have to be present at their workplaces so that emergency cases under constitutional obligation may be heard.
39,202 get bail in 25 days
A total of 39,202 people secured bail after their petitions were heard by virtual courts across the country.
Hearing on 73,116 bail petitions was held virtually during 25 working days since May 11, a Supreme Court press release said on Saturday.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the regular court activities remained suspended since March 26, but trial proceedings through videoconference began on May 11 during the general holidays, the government declared to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
On May 10, the Supreme Court issued practice directives for the Appellate Division, High Court Division, and the subordinate courts along with tribunals, and a "virtual courtroom user manual" for lawyers in line with the ordinance issued by President Md Abdul Hamid on May 9, allowing virtual court proceedings amid the Covid-19 lockdown in Bangladesh.