What’s causing delay at the PCR labs in Dhaka airport?

We are quite disappointed at the way the rapid PCR labs are functioning at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka. Six healthcare facilities set up PCR labs in the airport and started their operation on September 29 to ease the sufferings of UAE-bound migrant workers. But according to a report, they are not providing Covid-19 test results to the migrant workers in time. According to the HSIA authorities, 80 UAE-bound passengers—most of them migrant workers—missed their flights last Monday as they did not get their rapid PCR test results in time.

Currently, 20,000 UAE-based expatriate workers are reportedly stranded in the country, eagerly waiting to return to their host country. They have been stuck here since May 12 as the Gulf state imposed a flight ban due to the rising cases of Covid-19 in Bangladesh at the time. Later, the UAE authorities withdrew the ban on the condition that returnee migrant workers would produce negative Covid-19 test reports done six hours before boarding their flights. Fulfilling this condition became hard for our migrants since the HSIA did not have any RT-PCR labs on its premises. After urgent requests from the migrants and other authorities concerned, the government finally had six rapid PCR labs set up in the airport so the migrant workers can get tested and have their reports before boarding their flights. Sadly, the labs are also failing to deliver as expected.

Reportedly, migrant workers need to stand in ten separate queues for the Covid-19 test at the lab facilities, which is very time consuming. Their predicament, however, does not end there, as they have to stand in another queue for online verification of the test result, taking up precious time before boarding their flights. So, in order to get their tests done on time, many expatriate workers are coming to the airport about nine to ten hours before their flights, but are still not getting their test results before boarding their flights.

Such delays, most likely because of mismanagement and lack of planning and collaboration, are unacceptable. The lab authorities must ensure that the total process is done smoothly, without causing any suffering to our workers. The government and the HSIA authorities also should look into the matter and intervene if/when needed. There can be no excuse for our migrant workers and other passengers not being given their Covid-19 test results on time, given how important the deadline is.