Committee formed to probe why Gopalganj health worker was quarantined in a hut

A health worker was quarantined in a small thatched-hut on a raised platform just inches away from a water body at Gopalganj's Kotalipara upazila for seven days until she was rescued yesterday afternoon.

Today, a three-member probe committee was formed to investigate the reason behind quarantining the female health worker under such deplorable conditions, our Faridpur correspondent reports quoting Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Mahafujur Rahman.

"The committee headed by Md Mohasin Uddin, assistant commissioner (land) of Kotalipara, has been asked to submit a report in three working days. The other two members of the committee are Md Jakariya, officer in-charge (investigation) of Kotalipara police station, and Shreemoye Bagchi, Kotalipara upazila women's affairs officer."

The woman, is a health worker at a private hospital in Dhaka and hospital authorities let her go during the coronavirus outbreak. She returned home in the district on April 21.

An organising secretary of Awami League's Sadullapur union unit, Prashant Barai allegedly asked locals to keep her under quarantine in a hut just 400 metres from her own house.

Local administration learnt of the incident via social media. And yesterday, SM Mahafujur Rahman along with police from Kotalipara police station went to the spot to rescue the woman.

Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not reach Prashant Barai for his comments as his cellphone was found switched off.