Five CPA men die of virus, 39 others test positive

CHATTOGRAM, Jun 01: The coronavirus outbreak has posed a dire threat to the staff and officials of Chittagong sea port who have been discharging their duties to keep the export and import activities uninterrupted.

Five officials and staff of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) died of Covid-19 in a span of as many days, while 39 others have tested positive for the deadly virus until May 31.

To ensure proper treatment of the infected staff members, the CPA has turned the port hospital into a specialised one for them and set up an isolation centre at the Port Recreation Club.

The CPA officials and workers continued their work even during the nationwide shutdown.

The five persons who died of Covid-19 are Abdul Mannan, personal officer of the CPA chairman, Abdur Rashid Miaji, a staff member, Ali Akkas, a loskor, Akram Ullah Chowdhury, an inspector of Transport Department, and Abdul Hailm, a clerk of One Stop Service. They died between May 26 and 30.

Presently, a total of 236 staff members are on home quarantine and three others in isolation. Only one person has recovered so far.

The CPA has started collecting samples of their officials and workers on May 27 on its own initiative for coronavirus test. It is now collecting samples of 14 persons a day, sources said.

At a meeting on Sunday, the CPA took the decision to make the port hospital a specialised hospital dedicated to coronavirus patients.

CPA secretary Md Omar Faruk said, "The port workers, staff and officials have discharged their duties even during the government holidays despite the risks posed by the coronavirus. Now, we have taken a decision to make the port hospital a Covid-19 specialised hospital."

According to the CPA officials, the Chittagong port remains open round the clock to ensure no disruption to the supply chain. Operational activities, including loading and unloading of containers and cargoes, are going on continuously as usual. Chattogram Customs House is also continuing its activities to ensure delivery of goods in time.

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