Fearing coronavirus (Covid-19) transmission, bus passengers forced a woman with her son's body out on the road in the Hichmi market area of Joypurhat town, early Tuesday.
The woman, on her way home to Naogaon, boarded a bus with her ailing son. After her son felt really sick and passed away in the bus, passengers panicked and rumours spread that the woman's son died of the coronavirus, said Joypurhat Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Milton Chandra Roy, quoting locals.
The supervisor and passengers of the bus drove the woman with her son's body out of the bus. Locals also vacated the marketplace acting on the rumour, the UNO added.
Quoting the woman, the UNO said the deceased was a long time asthma patient, adding that they collected samples from the deceased’s body to ascertain whether he was infected with the coronavirus.
The woman was later allowed to take her son's body to her village for burial.
Sources at the district's civil surgeon office said, a few weeks ago, when a Narayanganj-returnee passed away in Roisgram village of Panchbibi upazila, rumours spread that he was infected with the coronavirus. Although he tested negative for the virus, no one came to take his body for burial because of rumours.
Previously, in Bogra, a similar incident took place, where bus passengers fearing coronavirus transmission, drove a man out of the vehicle as he had a cold, fever, and a cough, according to media reports.
The man later tested positive for the coronavirus. But went back home after treatment and recovery at Bogra 250 Bed Mohammad Ali District Hospital.
