Rare example of communal harmony set by volunteers

As deaths from Covid-19 have been increasing steadily across the country, arranging the last rites of the deceased and ensuring a proper burial of their loved ones have become a big issue for the families. People are still confused as to how to bury their loved ones who have succumbed to the virus due to apprehension about the virus's possible spread from a dead body. There are instances where the families of the deceased have left the bodies in fear of contracting the virus. Amid such a crisis when the family members of the deceased are not finding the courage to participate in the burial rituals and the communities are also not coming forward with help, the volunteers of Quantum Foundation in Pabna have taken up the responsibility to arrange the last rites of the Covid-19 victims, irrespective of their religious identity.

A 12-member team of the foundation has already arranged funerals of nine deceased including seven Muslims, one Hindu and one Christian—all of them died with Covid-19 or Covid-19 like symptoms. By taking up the responsibility of the burial, they have also made the job of the local administration easy as the latter has claimed that they do not have the manpower to arrange the burial service of the Covid-19 victims.

It should be mentioned here that the WHO issued a guideline on March 24, 2020, in which it mentioned that "to date there is no evidence of people becoming infected from exposure to the bodies of those who died from Covid-19." However, it has urged the managers of healthcare facilities and mortuaries, religious and public health authorities, and families—who tend to the bodies of persons who have died of suspected or confirmed COVID-19—to take necessary precautions as the safety and well-being of everyone who tends to bodies should be the first priority. The organisation has also discouraged hasty disposal of a dead body. It is, however, unfortunate that there is a lack of awareness among people in Bangladesh about these directives, which is why proper burial of the deceased is being hampered in many cases.

Therefore, we are humbled by the humanitarian spirit of the Quantum Foundation team who believe that everybody, irrespective of their religion, deserves to be buried with honour and dignity. We hope that the example set by them will encourage other voluntary organisations to come forward with such humanitarian services. We believe such selfless services can break the social stigma and fear associated with Covid-19 and the burial of the dead from the disease.