Third doctor dies from coronavirus

Another doctor, who tested Covid-19 positive, has died at a hospital in the capital.

Maj (retd) Abul Mokarim Md Mohsin Uddin, chief consultant (radiology) at Ibn Sina Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, breathed his last at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) around 11:20pm on Tuesday, Shafiqul Islam, manager (admin) at the centre, told The Daily Star.

Prof Mokarim, also a freedom fighter, got infected while discharging duties at Ibn Sina, he said.

Mokarim, in a medical apron, was featured in a TV commercial of Ibn Sina in the 90s where he was seen asking viewers: "Why would you pay extra unnecessarily?" He then urges them to visit the private hospital, which offered 25 percent discounts on medical tests.

Many thought Mokarim was an actor, but he was a noted radiologist.

His younger son Samuel Mursalin said his father, despite being an asthma patient, used to go to the diagnostic centre regularly even after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Around 12 days ago, he first exhibited Covid-19 symptoms, including fever.

As his condition worsened a week ago and he started to have breathing problem, he was first taken to Ibn Sina Hospital from where he was shifted to the CMH, he said.

His samples were collected there and the Covid-19 result came positive, Mursalin said, adding that his mother, elder brother and sister-in-law also tested positive later.

With Mokarim , three doctors have died of Covid-19 in the country so far.

On April 15, Dr Md Moyeen Uddin, an assistant professor at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, died at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka while Hematologist Prof Col (retd) Md Moniruzzaman of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital died on May 3.