Family of Dr Moyeen, who died of Covid-19, to receive compensation soon

Family of Dr Md Moyeen Uddin, who died after being infected with coronavirus, is going to receive the government-declared compensation soon.

They will be the first to receive such compensation, said Md Habibur Rahman Khan, Additional Secretary (Admin) to Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Dr Moyeen, an assistant professor of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, tested positive for the infection on April 5.

He died on April 15, while undergoing treatment at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka.

He was the first doctor to die in the country from Covid-19.

"All formal procedures regarding the claim filed by Dr Moyeen's family were completed and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance couple of days ago for the release of the compensation as soon as possible," said Md Habibur Rahman Khan.

On April 23, Ministry of Finance issued a circular stating that all government officials including doctors, nurses and health workers will be compensated if they are infected with Covid-19 while on duty.

The compensation amount for getting infected ranges from Tk 5 lakh to 10 lakh while the compensation for death with the infection ranges between Tk 25 lakh to 50 lakh, as per the salary grade of the employee.

Dr Moyeen's wife Dr Choudhury Rifat Jahan filed the claim on April 27 with all required documents and recommendation of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College authority.

Dr Rifat Jahan, an associate professor and head of the department of Physiology of Park View Medical College in Sylhet, said, "Everyone was very cordial during the process of claiming compensation. The medical college's principal, health ministry officials and others moved the claim promptly. I haven't yet been confirmed about the claim being cleared, but believe that the ministry will inform us soon."

Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, said, "The claim of Doctor Moyeen's family will be approved and handed over soon."

"It is our utmost priority to clear such claims as soon as possible so that the people serving the country in the frontline may be assured of financial safety," he said.