Reveal performance study results of Gonoshasthaya’s kits: Oikya Front

Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Kamal Hossain, on Tuesday demanded the quick revelation of the results of the performance study of novel coronavirus’ Rapid Dot Blot kit developed by Gonoshasthaya Kendra, reports news agency UNB.

In a statement, Kamal, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other top leaders of the opposition alliance made the demand.

“We can certainly say that Zafrullah Chowdhury has greatly increased the risk of getting infected with coronavirus as he worked hard for the corona detection kit. It’s very unfortunate that the government has not yet allowed the kit to come to the market by creating barriers at every step,” they alleged.

As the coronavirus has been spreading fast in society, the Oikya Front leaders said Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s kit could have helped people immensely to detect the virus amid the extreme inadequacy of government tests. “We strongly demand that the results of the performance study of the kit be disclosed as soon as possible and a decision be taken immediately about its use.”

They also expressed concern as Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury was reportedly diagnosed with the highly infectious lung disease virus.

The Oikya Front leaders wished him a speedy recovery. “Oikya Front will be with him (Zafrullah) in all his needs as in the past. “We hope, Zafrullah Chowdhury's illness will end with mild symptoms.”

They also hoped that Zafrullah’s condition will not turn critical though he is an elderly person with underlying health condition.

The alliance leader urged the government to get ready in advance to provide Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder with the best treatment at the best hospital if his condition deteriorates. “A heroic freedom fighter and a man who has worked for the country with all his strength deserves this from the state.”

The other signatories to the statement include Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) president ASM Abdur Rob, BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gano Forum general secretary Reza Kibriya, and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh’s professor Nurul Amin Bepari.

Earlier on Monday, Zafrullah said he was tested with Rapid Dot Blot kit developed by Gonoshasthaya Kendra at its laboratory on Sunday and found positive for the novel virus infections.

He said he is currently in isolation in a separate room at his Dhanmondi residence.

Meanwhile, Gonoshasthaya Kendra postponed its plan to collect samples of 50 patients for the test with GR COVID-19 kit at the request of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).

Earlier on 13 May, Gonoshasthaya Kendra submitted 200 samples of Rapid Dot Blot kits, devolved by the organisation for coronavirus test, to the authorities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to conduct the performance study.

On 30 April, the DGDA gave Gonoshasthaya the permission to get its COVID-19 rapid testing kits tested.

The DGDA informed Gonoshasthaya that the performance study of the kits could be done either at the BSMMU or IEDCR.

On 2 May, the BSMMU authorities formed a six-member committee to conduct the performance study of the testing kits as the organisation approached the country’s premier medical university.

On 25 April, Gonoshasthaya Kendra authorities handed over their testing kits to the BSMMU and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the final approval.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra has developed the “easy, effective and cheap” method to test the coronavirus infections.

Gonoshasthaya-RNA Biotech Limited, a sister concern of Gonoshasthaya, with the help of experts from Singapore developed the method named ‘Gonoshasthaya Rapid Dot Blot.’

On 17 March, Gonoshasthaya Kendra declared that they had developed a testing kit that can examine samples to detect COVID-19 within 15 minutes.