The RT-PCR labs to test departing migrants for Covid-19 were ready at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, said sources.
As a result of setting up the labs, there will be no obstacle for the United Arab Emirates-bound migrant workers to return to their workplaces.
However, no UAE-bound migrant workers left by any flight yesterday as the airport labs did not start testing the workers yet.
“No migrants were tested on Saturday, but around 100 airport staff members were tested on a trial basis. The trial was conducted to avoid any complication during commercial operation,” Dr Shahriar Sajjad, health officer at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told The Business Standard.
The UAE has made it mandatory for migrant returnees to get two Covid-19 tests – one 48 hours before flying from Bangladesh and another six hours before the flight.
The return of around 40,000 expatriate workers to their workplaces in the UAE was uncertain as there was no RT-PCR labs at Bangladesh’ airports.
Dr Shahriar Sajjad said the migrants need to buy tickets with a fixed flight date and time to get tested on time as per the UAE’s demand. As the labs at the airport were not ready before Saturday to test passengers six hours before their flights, there were no migrant workers with Covid-19 negative report obtained 48 hours before.
“The six laboratories have completed all the procedure to conduct Covid-19 test under our supervision. We have informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) about the lab installation. Now, they will contact concerned airlines who operate flights to the United Arab Emirates,” he added.
He expressed hopes that the migrant workers will be able to fly from Sunday or Monday after completing all these procedures.
The technical committee of DGHS also visited the labs on Saturday.
“The RT-PCR lab is completely ready. The airlines can carry passengers according to their schedule,” said Professor Dr Nasima…