Abul Hayat Manik, a doctor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), is continuing his duty regularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
His wife is also a doctor and works at the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory which is a red zone for transmission.
Manik said they took oaths to provide medical care and treatment in any situation.
“As both of us are doctors, our children stay in the house alone, but before we come back, they are taken to their grandmother’s house and remain there until we properly disinfect ourselves, Manik said.
People of all sectors and professions of the society are fighting against the deadly coronavirus pandemic situation. But among them doctors, law enforcement members, bankers and journalists are most at risk.
According to media reports all over the world, deaths and infected cases due to the Covid-19 are increasing everyday in the world, as well as in Bangladesh.
Amidst this crisis, the government has taken different initiatives along with lockdown and urged everyone to stay at home to be safe.
In this emergency, when everyone is staying inside, only the law enforcement agencies, doctors, bankers and journalists are working to provide uninterrupted service in their respective fields.
They all are directly involved in public service and they are afraid and scared of the prevailing situation .
Some of them shared their feelings while speaking to Dhaka tribune.
Doctors more vulnerable
Doctors are more vulnerable in this situation and many have been infected with Covid-19, aand recently one of them died of the virus.
Dr Jahudul Fardous Joy of Neurosurgery department at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said: “We have heard that many doctors were infected with Covid-19 while performing their duties, as because patients hid their symptoms."
A patient had Covid-19 but as symptoms were not disclosed, a whole ward had to be shut down.
Jahudul expressed fear mostly for his family and when he gets back home, he isolates himself from others and stays inside a room.
Not only doctors and police but also several journalists were infected with Covid-19 while performing their duties. In fear and panic, they are doing their best in collecting information.
Rabbi Ivn Siddique, a senior reporter of Jamuna TV said he was anxious, because his parents and siblings see him differently. They think he comes back home infected with the virus.
Maybe they do not say anything to him, but he understands that they want him to stay either at home or in the office.
“When I go home at the end of the day, I take bath and wash my clothes. It is actually a comfort to the mind. I don't know whether I am carrying the virus. Even then, I live in a separate room at home. I worry for my family,” he said.
Rabbi also said they were told by their office to report from a safer distance. “But we are not provided with any state or institutional insurance or any kind of support. But in the meantime I have to work with fear, overcoming it with mental strength.”
Bankers fear of getting infected with Covid-19
Several bankers in and outside of Dhaka, wishing not to be named, said they were working in emergency situation. People gather in large number in the first week of the month for collecting salaries and different type of allowances.
Many customers come to the bank to take services which are unnecessary now, but they are bound to provide services, as they are clients, they said.
They are scared, as the coronavirus infected cases are increasing every day.
Many police personnel tested positive for Covid-19
Police personnel are on the field 24/7 to ensure the government directive like social distancing, lockdown affected areas as well as to help distribute the relief.
For this reason, many police member have not gone home in a long time. Many of them have also tested positive for coronavirus.
Many police personnel expressed their feelings of working unconditionally in this epidemic.
On Wednesday, seven policemen tested positive with Covid-19 in Gopalganj.
Police members said they have been working without any protection gear in this outbreak.
They only use masks, hand gloves and sanitizer which they have to manage on their own as the supplies they were given are insufficient.
While there is a risk to life in the line of duty, the police headquarters Additional Inspector General (AIG) (media) Md Sohel Rana said special circumstances or immediate needs may require members of police force to fulfill their duty in unprotected condition to help the people in need
However, he assured that Bangladesh Police is working hard to ensure the safety of every police personnel.
Sohel said: “Every police member must ensure their own protection to make sure the safety of the general public. Besides, you have to protect yourself to protect your own family.”
