Arifur Rahman Rabbi :
The coronavirus infection number has begun to increase again in Bangladesh after some control.
So, the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been actively working day and night in the field, risking their lives, alongside health workers, including doctors and nurses.
Till March 20 this year, 87 police and RAB personnel had died of Covid-19 and 19205 others were infected while performing their duties in the field, according to the Police Headquarters.
Bangladesh has registered 26 deaths and 1,886 infections from Covid-19 in the 24 hours till Saturday morning. With this, the total number of corona cases in the country has stood at 5,68,706 people and the total number of deaths are 8,668 so far.
It saw that, 3.38 percent of total Covid-19 infections are police and RAB.
Police and other professionals say that though doctors Although the government is vaccinating people to prevent from Covid-19 infection and thinking of making everything normal, it is feared that the second wave of coronavirus is coming.
Though the government urged maintaining the health guideline such situation, the people have been showing careless about the coronavirus infection and not maintaining the health guideline even wear masks.
Now the government has been thinking to emphasize people to maintaining the health guideline.
As such situation, the law enforcement forces will work across the country to motivate the people to wear masks, maintaining health guideline from March 21.
The special motivation program taken by the police will continue till the coronavirus situation returns to normal. The slogan of the program is “Get the habit of wearing mask, make Covid-19 free Bangladesh”.
Concerned officials said that the rate at which police members are being infected with coronavirus is alarming. Being at the front lines, police may have to face a more difficult challenge.
According to the police headquarters till March 20, total dead is 87 where police are 81 and RAB is 6. Among them, one is the police superintendent (SP), one is additional SP while 10 inspectors, 14 sub-inspectors (SI), 8 ASI, one Nayek, 43 constables, civil members 3 and 6 RAB members sacrificed their live doing duty to prevent covid-19 pandemic situation.
Among 19205 infected, one is additional inspector general (Add. IG), 12 is DIG, while 20 Additional DIG, 122 SP, 192 Additional SP, 241 ASP, 992 Inspectors, 3093 SIs/ Sergeants, 2881 ASIs, 563 Nayek, 8964 constables and others 2118.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed said that they are in the field to motivate the people to wear masks and maintaining health guideline from March 21.
There was no alternative to mask. We should follow strictly all hygiene rules, he added.
The community police will also work to carry out motivation programs across the country. Masks will also be distributed free of cost if required, he further added.
“Please wear masks whenever you go out of the house. Never forget to go out without a mask. The issue must be kept in mind and practiced until we will get rid of the covid-19 infection completely,” said Benazir.
However, he also commented that it would be difficult to control the upward trend of the Corona situation if recklessly wandering around without a mask.
When asked why DMP police were more infected with Covid-19, some high-up official said that Dhaka has the highest number of police personnel, about 34,000.
“Dhaka is the capital and over-populated. The rate of coronavirus infection is also high here. Since the rate of infection is high, we are taking responsibility in the meantime. That is why the rate of infection is proportionally higher,” they said.
“Those who have been infected with Covid-19, we are ensuring all kinds of support to them, including treatment,” he added.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the reporters in different program that in case of need the law enforces will be worked to prevent the Covid-19 infection like earlier.
