A total of 123 personnel including 26 judges in the judiciary across Bangladesh have tested positive for Covid-19.
Supreme Court spokesperson Muhammad Saifur Rahman confirmed the matter on Tuesday.
“Till date, 26 employees of the Supreme Court and 71 officials in the subordinate courts have tested Covid-19 positive,” he said.
Earlier on Sunday night, Bhola District and Sessions Judge ABM Mahmudul Haque was airlifted to Dhaka and was admitted to the ICU of Universal Medical College Hospital.
According to the Law Ministry, the judge had undergone treatment at his Bhola residence but as his health condition deteriorated, he was flown by an Air Force helicopter to Dhaka.
On Saturday, a press release by the Supreme Court said, two court officials with symptoms similar to that of Covid-19 had died while they were on duty for conducting virtual court.
Md Kawser, Jarikarok, a messenger at the Madaripur District Judges’ 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 Saifur confirmed on Saturday.
According to the Supreme Court, Ferdous Ahmed, a judge at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Lalmonirhat, is undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) ICU in Dhaka. He was given plasma therapy.
Shamim Ahmed, judge at the Dhaka Special Sessions Judge Court 8, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) after she tested positive for Covid-19.
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, other infected judicial officers are receiving treatment at home.
Earlier on May 19, Netrokona District and Session Judge Shajahan Kabir and Munshiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate Begum Rokeya Rahman got infected with Covid-19.
Both of them recovered and resumed their offices, after receiving treatment.
However, a Supreme Court circular issued on June 1, 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.
