BGMEA's first Covid-19 testing lab launched
At the lab, 180 samples can be tested every day which will be increased later
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched an advanced Covid-19 testing lab with the support of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.
It has also taken an initiative to set up modern PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) labs at Tongi and Narayanganj.
These labs will be capable of accurately detecting high levels of novel coronavirus samples.
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The testing lab, set up, at Chandra in Gazipur district was inaugurated on Thursday through an online press conference.
The BGMEA President Dr Rubana Haque presided over the press conference, said a press release.
At the Chandra lab, 180 samples can be tested every day which will be increased later.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, former FBCCI and BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, former BGMEA president Salam Murshedy, former President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Motin Chowdhury and President of the Diabetic Association Bangladesh Dr AK Azad Khan also joined the press conference.
At the beginning of the conference, Zahid Maleque said, "All measures have been taken to keep the factories afloat. We hope that as a result of timely testing, it will be possible to bring the workers back to work through proper treatment."
Dr AK Azad Khan said, "The lab is an advanced lab like the ones in the developed world."
Rubana said, "So far, 264 apparel workers have been infected with Covid-19. We feared a higher number. The respective companies have ensured treatment for their infected workers."
"The workers are most important to us. So we are working to create regular awareness among them.
"We have taken several steps, such as ensuring social distancing of the BGMEA workers and taking full responsibility for their treatment."
To ensure the safety of the workers in the factories and to monitor the compliance with the health rules, the BGMEA formed six monitoring teams to ensure hygiene in the factories and already completed monitoring 502 factories.
