Bangladesh apparel factory owner dies from coronavirus

The owner of a readymade garment factory with underlying health conditions has died from coronavirus at a hospital in Dhaka.

Mohammad Taslim Akhter, the managing director of Prince Garments, lost the battle for his life at the Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital around 3:30pm on Thursday.

The entrepreneur in his 60s also had heart complications, high blood pressure and diabetes, the hospital’s Coordinator Shihab Uddin told bdnews24.com. Taslim weighed 104kg, Shihab said.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said in a statement that proper rules will be followed for funeral and burial of Taslim.

The government said 21 people died in Bangladesh until 8am on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases was 330.

Earlier in the afternoon, a worker of a garment factory in Narayanganj died at his home in Patuakhali’s Dumki Upazila - the first known fatality from coronavirus in the district.

The authorities locked down the area when the test results came following his death.

The district’s Civil Surgeon Zahangir Alam said they would collect samples from the members of the family on Friday.

Dumki Upazila Executive Office Shankar Kumar Biswas said the worker returned home from Narayanganj with fever on Apr 5.

His wife is pregnant and they have a son, Shankar said.

The authorities arranged his burial following the rules, he added.