Family members buried a female madrasa student after washing and shrouding her body at Bauphal upazila in Patuakhali on Monday as none of the villagers had approached the graveyard fearing coronavirus infection. The incident took place at village Paschim Botkajol of Naumala union under Bauphal upazila on Monday morning.
It was known that 12-year old Rabeya, daughter of physically challenged Forkan Baga of the village was a student of Class VII of local Adabaria DS Alim Madrasa. She had been infected with skin diseases, and had a fever. Later, Rabeya was taken to a quack and he prescribed her medicine. As Rabeya’s condition had deteriorated, she was again rushed to that quack.
Then the quack pushed an injection to Rabeya's body. When Rabeya was brought at home, it was found that different parts of her body had swollen. She died on the following morning.
As the rumour spread, panic had gripped the entire village. Everybody started saying that Rabeya died being infected with coronavirus. None of the villagers approached the grief-stricken family members to console them. Even, none was found to bath Rabeya's body and conduct funeral prayer. Subsequently, the family members bathed Rabeya and buries her.
Naumala union parishad member Jahangir Akon said that Rabeya had been suffering from skin diseases and fever over a couple of days. She died on Monday.
Later, rumour spread in the village that she died of coronavirus infection. Being afraid, none went to her home. None also took part in the funeral prayer and burial.
Bauphal Upazila Health and Family Planning officer Dr Prashanta Kumar Saha said perhaps Rabeya was not infected with coronavirus. She might have died without receiving proper treatment for her skin diseases.
