Covid-19 claims lives of 2 more policemen

Two more Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) personnel have died with Covid-19 in the last two days.

The dead are Abdul Khaleq, 26, assistant sub-inspector of Public Order Management, Mirpur; and Asheq Mahmud, a constable of DMP's Traffic North Division.

According to police, ASI Khaleq died around 4:30am yesterday while Constable Asheq breathed his last around 9:30pm on Wednesday. Both of them were kept on isolation after they showed coronavirus symptoms.

Over 500 police personnel have been tested positive with Covid-19 so far and around 1100 placed in quarantine across the country. Of the infected, more than 250 are attached to DMP.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, said ASI Khaleq showed Covid-19 symptoms on April 28. Later, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) collected samples from his body for tests.

As ASI Khaleq tested positive, he was kept in isolation at a hotel in the capital's Arambagh. He was later shifted to Central Police Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his condition deteriorated. He died at the hospital, the police official said.

ASI Khaleq hailed from Barguna and joined Bangladesh Police as a constable in 2004. He left behind his wife, two daughters and a son.

Meanwhile, Badrul Hasan, additional deputy commissioner of Traffic North Division, said Constable Asheq was put under institutional quarantine at Siddheswari School and College as he exhibited Covid-19 symptoms.

His sample was collected and tested at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on April 26 and the result came back the following day saying he was Covid-19 positive, the ADC added.

As Asheq faced difficulties breathing and his condition deteriorated gradually, he was taken to Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. He breathed his last around 9:30pm at the hospital's ICU, he added.

Hailed from Jamalpur, Constable Asheq joined Bangladesh Police in 1997. He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.

The bodies of the policemen were sent to their respective districts yesterday after holding namaz-e-janaza at Razarbagh Police Lines.

Police Headquarters (PHQ) and DMP expressed deep shock at the deaths of their two members and said the two filed-level frontline fighters against the deadly virus were proud members of the force.

Police will turn the shock into strength and will stand by their families, PHQ and DMP said in separate messages.