Laying Covid-19 victims to a dignified rest

For over two decades, charity organisation Hamza Al-Markazul has been involved in the burial process of the deceased, among other social works.

But they never thought they would have to bury people whose families wanted to bid farewell but could not because of Covid-19.

Since the outbreak of the virus in the country, they have been conducting funerals and burials of victims at the government-designated graveyard in Khilgaon-Taltola with the help from the two Dhaka city corporations.

As there was a fear of infection, initially family members of a deceased would not come to the graveyard during burial of their near and dear ones, but since the last one week the situation has changed, said Shahidul Islam, acting chairperson of the organisation.

"Presence of family members has started to increase since the announcement of the World Health Organization that a deceased person is unlikely to spread the virus," he said.

Still the grim reality remains that the number of deaths due to coronavirus continue to take place in the country and accordingly, volunteers of Hamza Al-Markazul carry on with their social and humane responsibility of performing the last rites of those succumbing to the deadly virus.

Till Wednesday, around 180 people have been buried at Khilgaon-Taltala graveyard, designated for the burial by the two city corporations.

Of them around 140 have been tested positive, Shahidul told this correspondent. "We have also sent bodies of 20 Hindus to the cremation field at Postagola following proper procedures," Shahidul Islam told this correspondent.

Over the last couple of days, family members of around 30 Covid-19 infected persons were present during the burial, he said. Shahidul said they have also handed over three bodies to family members who took those to Sylhet, Feni and Sirajganj for burial.

'A COMBINED EFFORT'

A 17-member group of volunteers are involved in the total process. Being informed by the health ministry officials, the team receives the body from a hospital or other places and brings it to the graveyard after disinfecting the body properly.

Tanzina Sarwar, chief social welfare official of Dhaka North City Corporation, said besides Al Markazul, two other organisations -- Quantum Foundation and Rahmat A Elahi -- are also involved with the burial process.

"We are making sure that the bodies are being disinfected properly at the hospital before bringing those to the burial ground," she added.

She said after being disinfected, a body is put in an airtight bag and then into a coffin. "It is then taken to the graveyard. We are being utmost careful and sincere while performing our duties so that there is no chance of spreading the virus."

They also dig a four feet grave rather than 2.5 feet one. "The germs will get destroyed within a few days after burial," she said.

The chief social welfare officer said it's a joint effort. "Al Markazul brings the bodies and places those at the grave while our people dig the graves and take care of other procedures to complete the burial." There are also three imams as well as members of Al Markazul who conduct janazas before the burial.

Tanzin said the Khilgaon-Taltala graveyard has a burial capacity of 2,500. "We will also visit the Rayerbazar graveyard (90,000 capacity) this week to take necessary measures in case we need to use it."

Initially four burials took place outside the Khilgaon-Taltola graveyard. Apart from that, all burials of Covid-19 positive persons in the capital were conducted at this graveyard, she said.