No homecoming for frontline heroes

A couple -- both doctors working at Agailjhara Upazila in Barishal -- recovered from coronavirus after taking treatment at hospitals for around 10 days.

But they are now facing a new problem.

They cannot return home in Gournadi upazila headquarters, as the house owner and local municipality mayor are opposing it, the couple alleged.

"We were infected with Covid-19 while treating patients. But, now we can't return home. We're feeling very helpless," the husband, a medical officer of Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex, told The Daily Star.

For the couple, returning home becomes more imperative as they have stayed in quarantine for 14 days.

The wife, a medical officer at Paisarhat Sub Health Center in the upazila, tested Covid-19 positive on April 13 and her husband tested positive three days later.

At first, they took treatment at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, and later at Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital.

"Last night [Friday], we got fresh test results and came to know that we tested negative. We were told by hospital authorities that we would be released today," the husband said.

When he called his house owner on Friday night to let him know that they were returning home as they have recovered, he was told that he and his wife would be allowed to return if upazila nirbahi officer and Gournadi municipality mayor give permission.

UNO Israt Jahan gave her nod when he contacted her, the doctor said.

"But, when I called Gournadi Mayor Harisur Rahman, he told us not to go home as people may panic and he [mayor] would not take any responsibility for an untoward situation," he said. The mayor asked them to stay in Agailjhara where they work, he said.

He then talked to Agailjhara UNO and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer and they asked the duo to stay at Agailjhara Upazila Rest House.

"How long can we live there when all our belongings are at our home? So, I called my house owner again today [Saturday] to ask when I will be allowed to return home," said the doctor.

"But he [house owner] took a strong position and said you can return when situation becomes normal in the country," he added.

When he contacted Mayor Harisur yesterday, he once again said, "You can return home but I would not take any responsibility if anything untoward occurs."

Contacted yesterday, Harisur Rahman said he is not the authority to grant permission whether someone can return home or not; rather it is the responsibility of the local administration.

Claiming that the UNO locked down the area, Harisur said, "If local administration, taking their responsibility, allows them to return, that's great. I can't allow or bar them."

When this correspondent mentioned that the house owner said the mayor's permission was needed, he said, "I don't know what the house owner said. Who am I to give permission?"

Asked whether he has any responsibility, Harisur said, "I won't take any responsibility regarding this."

"If they can return after talking to local administration, good for them. But if they return saying that the mayor has given permission and any untoward incident happens, I would not take responsibility," he said.

Contacted, Gournadi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Israt Jahan said the doctor couple would be allowed to return home if they can show papers that they recovered from Covid-19. Asked about resistance from the house owner, the UNO said they would ensure the couple's security.

Dr Nirupam Das, chief administration of Bangladesh Doctors Foundation, said, "Such harassment of doctors, who are now on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19, is very unfortunate. We want the authorities concerned to take prompt action in this regard."

At least 324 doctors got infected with Covid-19 so far and six of them have recovered, Dr Das told The Daily Star.