As the coronavirus continues its silent and sometimes deadly march across the world, the Bangladesh government has enforced social distancing measures and an apparent lockdown across the country, after the health authorities in the country confirmed its first three cases of the coronavirus.
The authorities on March 25 decreed a ban on passenger travel via water, rail and on domestic air routes from March 24 while all public transport on roads were suspended from March 26 to stem the spread of the virus, officially known as COVID-19.
Panic stricken people in general are now at their dwelling places in the face of the lockdown, with the government's emergency servicemen, including the all important policemen, are on the streets protecting people and serving the nation.
Bangladesh Police have around 2,75,000 members, a vast majority of whom have since been in the line of duty to create mass awareness over the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Members of the police force are tasked with responsibility of ensuring among other duties home quarantine measures being followed by expatriates, and monitoring recent returnees.
Police are also trying to locate a large number of the expatriate population who have been residing in places in Bangladesh different from the addresses on their passports.
There are different insignia and rank and file among policemen according to their designations. Generally police at the officers level have more managerial and leadership functions rather than their subordinates like sergeants, ASIs, Nayeks and, at the bottom of the hierarchy, constables.
However, the constable level police members discharge their duties with no or little personal protective equipment (PPE). They patrol the streets and neighbourhoods across the country for as many 12 to 14 consecutive hours at a stretch.
In Dhaka's upscale Gulshan, a large number of diplomats, foreigners, UN officials, top businessmen and politicians reside..
On Sunday around 3.00pm, three policemen were on duty at the Gulshan-Badda link road check-post without PPEs. Two of them were constables and one was a sub-inspector (SI).
Constables check private cars, motorcycles or other vehicles on the roads, and verify relevant documents required by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources have said the Chinese government donated some PPE to Bangladesh Police on Sunday.
Besides, the police distributed a small quantity of PPE, hand sanitizers, masks and gloves on their own initiative although the protective materials were in short supply.
As a consequence, field level constables were to discharge their duties without full protection, thereby putting themselves at risk.
A police patrol team of Hatirjheel police station was on duty in the capital's Moghbazar Dilu road on Monday afternoon.
SI Ataul Mahmud Khan told Dhaka Tribune that his shift had started at 8am at the police station and would continue till 9pm. At the end of his duty, he would take some rest at the police mess in the police station compound.
Ataul Mahmud said his family lived in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
Constable Belayet Hossian, a 24 year police veteran, said it was one of the most uncertain and anxious moments in his life due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"My wife and four children, who live in Narsingdi's Raipura upazila, make regular phone calls to know about my health and wellbeing," said Belayet Hossain, who was on duty under SI Ataul Mahmud.
Md. Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of DMP (Media division), said coronavirus prevention equipment was being provided to the police units.
'In this national crisis we are working to encourage people to stay home apart from performing other regular public security duties”, he said.