RAB raids Shahabuddin hospital for conducting ‘COVID-19 test without permission’

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Sunday conducted a raid at Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital in Gulshan for allegedly performing COVID-19 antibody tests without permission from the government.

During the raid, the RAB detained hospital's assistant director Md Abul Hasnat .

RAB magistrate Sarwoer Alam along with Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) inspector Nahin Al Alam started the drive around 3:00pm.

Nahin told newspersons that they received allegations that the private hospital is conducting antibody tests without having any approval.

RAB magistrate Sarwoer Alam said Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital was initially given permission to conduct coronavirus tests but the DGHS cancelled the approval last week as they failed to set up RT-PCR lab.

The hospital was still collecting samples and providing test reports by conducting tests elsewhere, which is also illegal, he added.

Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital’s director Md Monsur Ali confessed that the authorities revoked their permission for conducting coronavirus tests.

He, however, said around 100 kits were bought from abroad to test the hospital’s staffers and he does not know if any test has been conducted as yet.