“Police are constantly monitoring social media platforms, including Facebook. Action has already been taken against those spread rumours about coronavirus and rumour-mongers will face strict action,” he said.

The IGP issued the warning while briefing reporters after receiving personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, hand gloves and sanitiser donated by Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh (OCAB) for Bangladesh Police at Police Headquarters.

The association donated medical supplies -- 100,000 masks, 5,000 testing kits, 5,000 protective equipment, 10 kg disinfectant and 50kg hand sanitiser.

Urging all to stay at home as per the government's health guidelines and not to go outside without any emergency to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the IGP said, “If you need to go outside, comply with hygiene.”

He said every unit of the Bangladesh Police has been working from the beginning to prevent the transmission of the virus. “Instructions have been made about what they can do and what not. Special PPE and other protective equipment are being distributed among police personnel who are attending the burial of those died from the coronavirus.”

Police personnel are carrying out campaign nationwide to raise awareness about coronavirus and they are also distributing masks and sanitiser among people, Javed Patwary said.

Disinfectant is being sprayed on a limited scale with police vehicles, he said, adding that police personnel are delivering food items to those in quarantine and. “Large police units like DMP and CMP are distributing food among poor people free of cost,” he said.

The IGP said police have brought the overseas returnees under monitoring. “With concerted efforts of all, we’ll win the war against corona.”

The IGP thanked OCAB for helping for donating the medical supplies, saying this will further strengthen the existing relations between the friendly people of the two countries.

Earlier, a six-member OCAB delegation, led by its President Zhuang Lifeng, went to the Police Headquarters and formally handed over the PPE and other items to the IGP.