Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing tested positive for COVID-19. He is the first member of the current cabinet to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Pratyush Paul, Focal person for corona Issue, at the Bandarban Civil Surgeon’s Office, confirmed that, the minister’s name was among the nine newly identified patients in Bandarban on Saturday night.
The minister was airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday morning for advanced treatment, said Dr Angsui Pru Marma, Civil surgeon of Bandarban.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Angsui Pru Marma further said that, the COVID-19 positive of MP Bir Bahadur U Shai sing was detected in a lab test at Cox’s Bazar on Saturday. His samples was collected on June 3. A report on Saturday identified a total of 9 corona positive in Bandarban district. As a result, the number of corona cases in this district has risen to 46.
Chittagong hill tracts affairs ministry secretary M Mesbahul Islam told Media, ` Mr. Minister was admitted to Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka on Sunday morning after he got his positive COVID-19 test report on Saturday night.
He said that the minister was brought to the hospital through a helicopter as he was staying in his constituency in Bandarban.
On the other hand, samples of 3 persons including personal assistant of the minister, bodyguard police member and full time minister’s servant have also been collected. However, the health department said that their report has not been received yet.
Including Bir Bahadur, at least seven AL lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19.
The remaining six are— Mohammed Nasim of Sirajganj-1, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury of Chattogram-6, Shahiduzzaman Sarker of Naogaon-2, Mohammad Ebadul Karim of Brahmanbaria-5, Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury of Chittagong-16, and Jamalpur-2 Faridul Hoque Khan Dulal.
Meanwhile, MP of Rangamati Dipankar Talukder, Rangamati district Awami League General secretary Hazi Musa Matabbar, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board chairman Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura and many others from different political,social and culturual organization and activist, pray for the recovery of Minister Bir Bahadur from Covid-19.