Rapid PCR-test at Dhaka airport to be functional soon

Dhaka: Rapid PCR-test facility at Dhaka Airport will be up and running in a matter of days, said Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, Executive Director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on September 9 while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor.

A private company DMFR Molecular and Diagnostics is likely to get the contract to place their rapid PCR-test machines at the airport, the airport director said, adding that the company has already given a proposal and presentation regarding it to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Directorate General of Health Services and the airport authorities.

Once the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment ministry approves, DGHS will examine the quality of the machines and then rapid testing facility at the airport will be underway under the supervision of HSIA authorities.

“Once approved, it will only take 4-5 days for the machines to be operational,” said the HSIA Executive Director.

Four rapid PCR-test machines will be placed at the parking area on the second floor of the airport. Each day the machines will be able to carry out PCR-tests of 2500 passengers, 800-900 at a time in two hours.

The machines have already reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

If there is more flow of passengers, we will increase the number of machines accordingly, mentioned Ahsan.

Passengers will be able to get the test results in three hours so that they can be on time for check-in before boarding their respective flights.

The airport director further mentioned that the private company responsible for the machines have proposed to charge BDT 1700 per person for the rapid tests.

However, the price will likely be reduced as the concerned authorities do not want the expatriate workers to feel more burdened with so many tests – once in 72 hours of flight departure and then again before boarding, said the Airport Director.

The news comes as huge relief to hundreds of UAE-bound expatriate workers who are waiting to get back to their respective work destinations before they lose their jobs or their visas expire.

As UAE has made it mandatory for inbound travellers to be tested right before boarding the flight, the airport director said the machines of this private company are UAE-certified to do the testing properly.