Al Arafah Islami bank Ctg branch open despite officer testing Covid-19 positive

Despite the risk of the spread of the coronavirus, Chattogram's Agrabad branch of Al Arafah Islami Bank has been continuing regular activities despite one of its staff testing Covid-19 positive.

Sudip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Double Mooring Police Station, said one of the officers of the branch tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday.

"After receiving the information, we went to the branch on Wednesday and this morning, but failed to lock it down due to the intervention from the branch manager and other staffers."

The OC also said that they have informed the matter to the higher authorities and are waiting for further instruction.

Contacted, Jobayer Hossain, manager of the branch, said, "We have informed our higher authorities and Bangladesh Bank about the matter of lockdown of the branch. No decision has come from them yet."

A 40-year-old officer tested positive on Wednesday, he said adding that three employees of the branch, who sit around him, were home quarantined. The officer came to the office last on May 8.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said the risk is increasing as the bank's branch has not been locked down even two days after the banker had tested positive.

"As per the rules, the branch was supposed to be locked down yesterday and there is no scope for waiting for decisions from any other organisation," he told our Chattogram staff correspondent.

The branch will be locked down as soon as possible, he added.