Nirod Chandra Mandal, 52, the latest victim, was posted as a stenographer at Pallabi zone of police’s Mirpur division under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

He breathed his last at the city’s Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital (CPH).

“With him, 16 members of Bangladesh Police have sacrificed their lives to ensure the safety of the people during the coronavirus situation,” said Md Sohel Rana, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Headquarters (Media).

Nirod was admitted to the CPH after tests confirmed that he was infected with coronavirus. He died at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on Monday afternoon.

Hailing from Faridpur district, Nirod left behind his wife, a daughter and a son, as well as many relatives and admirers.

His body was sent to his village home under police management. The funeral was conducted in presence of senior police officers of the district as per religious provisions.

A total of 5,333 policemen were infected with coronavirus across the country while performing duties as of Tuesday as the situation continues to worsen with the rise in new cases and deaths.

Sources at the Police headquarters said that among the infected policemen, 2,059 have made full recovery until morning.

Among the total cases, 1,706 are members of DMP, the sources said.

The country on Tuesday saw the biggest jump in coronavirus cases in a day with the detection of a record 2,911 new cases in the span of 24 hours. So far, the health authorities confirmed 52,445 cases.

Also read: Coronavirus: 5,333 policemen infected in Bangladesh

During the same period, 37 more patients died of COVID-19, raising the death toll to 709.