The activities of RT-PCR laboratories of six institutes set up at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) for testing coronavirus samples of expatriates and passengers have started from Sunday morning.
At the initial stage, samples will be collected experimentally from 100 persons and sample test reports will be prepared through the equipment installed in the laboratory.
Virologists from the institutes concerned have already joined at the airport for the test.
Assistant Director of the Department of Health working at the airport Shahriar Sajjad confirmed the matter to the media.
Earlier, the work of setting up the lab was completed on Saturday night.
Due to lack of RT PCR lab at the airport, many countries were not allowing passengers to enter their country from Bangladesh.
Many countries have imposed a condition to check the coronavirus samples from the airport before boarding the plane.
Many expatriates are stranded in the country as there was no such facility at any airport. As a result, on the one hand the expatriates were worried about their jobs abroad on the other hand the country was being deprived of the remittance income.
Emphasizing these issues, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the parties concerned to set up RT PCR Labs soon.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment approved seven private companies to set up RT PCR labs for coronavirus testing at the airport.