Sample testing for travelling abroad starts

The authorities have started taking samples for Covid-19 test from Bangladeshi citizens willing to go abroad.

On July 20, samples were collected at a temporary Covid-19 isolation centre in Mohakhali DNCC Market.

The latest move comes after the government made such test mandatory for overseas trip amid allegations that people went abroad having fake Covid-19 certificate.

Samples will be collected from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, said a press statement from Covid-19 Information Management, Mass Communication and Community Mobilization Committee.

All the testing process was done under the supervision of civil surgeon's office in Dhaka.

Samples were also collected in 13 districts outside Dhaka managed by civil surgeons concerned, added the statement.

The districts are Barisal, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Cumilla, Narayanganj, Khulna, Kushtia, Mymensingh, Bogura, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Sylhet.

Passengers must submit samples 72 hours before their departure.

Photocopies of passports and tickets must be submitted at the time of sample submission while the original passports and tickets need to be displayed.

Each passenger has to deposit Tk 3,500 as prescribed by the government as examination fee.

The collected samples will be tested at a government laboratory and each report be issued 24 hours before departure, it added.