Boatman exhibits Covid-19 symptoms, dies off Hatia coast
The upazila administration collected samples from the boatman’s body after leaving his boat stranded at sea for 12 hours
A boatman, exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, has died in his boat near the coast of Hatia.
He had been returning to Sandwip, alongside seven crew members, from Khulna, around 2:30 am on Saturday.
The Sandwip upazila administration has allowed samples to be taken from his body 12 hours after his death and has quarantined his boat's seven crew members.
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The upazila administration has facilitated the crew's quarantine on their boat.
The deceased boatman, Mohammad Deedar, and seven crew members, are residents of Sandwip.
Sandwip upazila Health Officer Dr. Fazlul Karim told The Business Standard, "Initially the administration had decided to send the crew members – along with the deceased – to Chattogram as the man had died exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms."
"Later, after consultations with our superiors, we decided to bury the deceased at his home in Sandwip. We are collecting samples from his body and they will be sent to Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITD) for testing.", added Fazlul.
One of the boat's crew members, Mamun, said, "We were transporting salt from Bashkhali in Chattogram to Khulna. While returning from Khulna, Deedar died in the boat around 2:30 am near the coastal area of Hatia."
"The upazila administration prevented us from docking with his body at Sandwip. We were stranded near the coast, with his body, for 12 hours," added Mamun.
