A Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex staff person was reportedly told by a union parishad chairman to vacate his home and move far away to a brick kiln. The UP chairman also put his [hospital staff] house under lockdown illegally in Savar.
The incident took place in Madarpur of Balia union in Dhamrai upazila, confirmed Dr Nur Rifat, upazila health and family planning officer at the Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex.
The victimised hospital staff told Dhaka Tribune that on Thursday the chairman locked down his house and marked it off with a red flag after hearing that a hospital staffer had tested positive for coronavirus.
"However, when my test results came back negative the next day, the chairman didn’t remove the red flag from my house.
"Moreover, he and his men stopped me on my way home from work on Sunday."
“Both my parents have heart conditions and require regular medication, but they are locked down and I can’t get their medication to them. The chairman also told me to take my family and go live at a brick kiln far away from here,” he added.
Dr Nur Rifat told Dhaka Tribune that the staff person was a gardener at the health complex but lately due to a staff shortage, he had been working at the ticket counter.
“After I heard the news, I immediately moved him to the hospital staff quarters. However, the chairman and his men still aren’t letting his family leave the house.”
On his remark about telling the hospital staff to live at a brick kiln, Balia Union Parishad Chairman Ahmed Hossain, said he didn't intend to mean that. “I wanted to request him to maintain a distance from other locals, as they were worried he might have the new virus.”
Dhamrai police station OC Deepak Chandra Saha said: “We have visited Madarpur village and spoke with the locals. We have also talked to the chairman. I hope the issue has been resolved, but if this problem still persists, we will take legal action.”
