A police constable has died after contracting coronavirus, recording the first death of a police official in Bangladesh.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Wari Division) Shah Iftekhar Ahmed confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Constable Mohammad Jasim Uddin, hailing from Burichang upazila of Comilla.
“He was kept in quarantine at Hotel Al Salam, which is being managed by the Rajarbagh Central Coronavirus Management authority,” he said.
“After he fell sick, he was taken to Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital, and he was referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
“The on-duty doctor declared him dead last night (Tuesday) at about 10:30pm,” he added.
Jasim caught fever on April 24, and his sample was sent to IEDCR for testing the next day. Earlier, he was working at a police outpost under Wari police station.
“Earlier, we contacted IEDCR, but they were saying that the result was not ready,” he said.
“We started contacting them repeatedly from last night as the dead body needs to be buried and there are measures to be taken if he had contracted coronavirus. Today (Wednesday) morning, we got the result and he tested positive.”
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Wari police station Sub-Inspector (Operation) Harunur Rashid said police could not identify how Jasim got infected.
“He (Jasim) only had fever, no cough, when he was sent in quarantine,” SI Rashid said, adding that another member of Wari police station has also been sent to quarantine few days ago.
“He was very distressed regarding the outcome of the coronavirus test. But, he left the world without seeing the result.”
He used to live in Dhaka, while his wife along with their two daughters and one son lived in their village home.
SI Rashid said Constable Jasim was from a “very solvent” family and two of his brothers lived in Europe.
“There were no allegations of corruption against him and everybody liked him because of his honesty.”
Meanwhile, Police Headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Media) Sohel Rana, in a statement, said that the dead body will be sent to his village home for burial.
“Maintaining all religious customs, he would be buried there and Bangladesh Police will be by his family.”
Earlier, another police member died in quarantine but was tested negative later.
Over 250 police members have been infected with coronavirus till now, police said.
