Ansar man dies from Covid-19

A member of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party died from Covid-19, and at least 166 others have tested positive as of yesterday, said an official of the force.

Of them, 58 had been discharging their duties at the parliament, 65 in Dhaka Metropolitan Police area, and 43, including a deputy-director-ranked officer, at the Ansar headquarters and different districts, Mehnaz Tabassum Rabin, deputy director of the force, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Eleven of them have so far recovered, she said.

Ansar member Abdul Mazid, who was carrying out his duties at Bhatara Police Station, breathed his last on Monday.

Besides, 435 Ansar members are sent to quarantine for14 days as they either came in contact with infected members or showed Covid-19 symptoms, she said.

Mehnaz said Ansar members were being infected as they were discharging their duties with other forces and physicians at hospitals.

"It is the Ansar member who first receives patients at hospitals and readies trolleys for them. Besides, our officials are distributing leaflets to create awareness among people."

Asked about the protection equipment, Mehnaz said they managed protective gear under their own arrangements and distributed those among the members working on the field.