DHAKA: Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged the authorities concerned of the government to step up the capacity for testing Covid-19 samples. 

Proper co-ordination between Health Ministry and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is a must to achieve better testing ability, he said.

Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said it in a regular press briefing from his official residence in Dhaka on Tuesday (July 14). 

The ruling party leader said: “Sample testing for Covid 19 is decreasing in number. Besides, the infection rate is comparatively higher, around one fourth of the total number of samples being tested daily.”

Hoping that the DGHS will supply necessary equipment to boost up the capacity of test laboratories, he said there is lack of synchronization between the ministry and DGHS according to media reports. “We need proper co-ordination between those two to battle the pandemic.”

In response to a journalist’s query about extremely poor people not being able to test the virus due to newly imposed fee, Quader said: “It is very disconcerting. I am urging the authorities to take due plan of action to help the helpless of the country.”

On the issue of fake coronavirus test certificates, Quader said issuance of fake certificates not only created anxiety in the country but also tarnished Bangladesh’s image abroad. “We have to be very vigilant that no medical facility could do such thing in future.”

Around 15 districts of the country have been flooded in the past two weeks. Flood water stranded thousands of people inundating villages, crops and livestock, said Quader, adding that, historically, Awaimi League stood by the people during the time of any natural disasters.

“The government has already evacuated marooned people to shelters. Around 1000 shelters have been kept ready to tackle the flood situation,” he added.

BDST: 1636 HRS, JULY 14, 2020
AP/SMS