When working from home is not an option

Bangladesh has gone into lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus or covid-19 in the country.

While most people are staying indoors, a small number of people are still having to gout to fulfil their professional commitments. These include doctors, nurses, medical staff, journalists, police and other law enforcers, pharmacists, small vendors and rickshaw-pullers. 

A traffic policeman doing work on the city roads without any protective equipment to keep himself safe from the virus. The government directive of lockdown does not include police, doctors and emergency workers. Photo: Salauddin Ahmed Paulash

These people are working relentlessly and in most cases they have little or no protection against the virus. Most doctors are still to get their PPE, with policemen and journalists working with little or no protection. 

A photojournalist of a renowned media outlet in the country is doing his regular work in the city wearing a PPE. As media outlets could not stop their operations amid the virus outbreak, they have ensured PPE for the staff working on the field. Photo: Salaudiin Ahmed Paulash

The day labourers have chosen to flee the city because they fear that hunger will kill them before the virus.

However, few rickshaw-pullers and cleaners are still in the city, unprotected against the virus. They are still plying the deserted city streets, and taking passengers from one place to another - just to ensure that they and their families do not sleep with an empty stomach. 

File Photo: TBS

The country reported its first three cases of the novel coronavirus on March 8, while the first death was reported ten days later. So far, the country has seen five deaths and as many as thirty-nine infections.  

A group of cleaners of Dhaka City Corporation are watching a video on an electronic device. They have been given masks to protect themselves from the virus. Photo: Mumit M