A plea from the valley of death

Ignatius Rozario, a Bangladeshi living in Milan, is acutely depressed. The 45-year-old man who always likes to dress up and look sharp now has a black-and-grey beard after staying home for two weeks amid Italy's countrywide lockdown.

"Dead bodies and coffins are occupying the hospitals. Doctors are struggling to cope with the situation. Is there anything more tragic than losing both parents and not being able to see them for the last time?" Ignatius told The Daily Star yesterday.

"Lombardy in Milan is the place where the virus has struck the hardest. We are seeing the highest number of infections and deaths. This is something beyond my worst nightmare."

According to reports, the death toll from coronavirus in Italy is over 8,000 and there are over 80,000 confirmed cases. One Bangladeshi died of Covid-19 in Milan and 10 other Bangladeshis tested positive in the European country.

The Bangladeshi man was buried in the presence of four other men from his country. They, however, could not see the body as it was wrapped.

Seeing the developed country's health system get overwhelmed has shocked the world.

Ignatius said when Covid-19 was first detected in Italy, the government imposed restrictions on movement and asked shops to shut down. However, the instruction was not taken seriously. And many people violated it.

The number of infections for the first two weeks was not alarming, but then it went up dramatically and the hospitals were unable to treat everyone in need, he said.

Ignatius, a native of Natore, went to Italy over a decade ago. He has become a restaurant executive and is now a permanent resident of the country. His wife and two children also live there.

"The cases of infection and deaths in Bangladesh at present are nothing compared to those in Italy. However, Bangladesh is a heavily-populated country with a health system not even comparable to that of Italy."

A lockdown is yet to be fully enforced in Bangladesh and people are still roaming about, he said.

"The way people thronged bus and launch terminals to go home from Dhaka is scary. If there are even a few infected people in those stations, the virus will spread like wildfire."

He is already shocked at the deaths in Italy and will not be able to bear it if something like this happens in his homeland.

"I appeal to everyone in Bangladesh, please stay home, don't go outside unless it is really essential. And, when you go out, please take all safety measures.

"I am saying this because you are yet to see the tragedy unfold in Bangladesh. Please take it very seriously."