They made this call as the other countries have been doing so, said a press release from GBA.

Biochemists and molecular biologists said they will work diligently to create the necessary test kits by sequencing the genome of the virus and make VTM if they get the government support.

GBA said despite the huge role of molecular biologists in coronavirus prevention, no biochemist or molecular biologist has been included in the 17-member National Advisory Committee formed on April 18.

“A letter was sent to the Health Ministry from Dhaka University stating how the universities could cooperate in this work but no reply was received,” GBA said.

Dr Anwar Hossain, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, said that coronavirus resistance is a war at present.

The countries that have so far been successfully tackle the COVID-19 pandemic; we can utilize and follow their experiences, he added.

He also said that Bangladesh needs a coordinated approach to this war as doctors, as well as researchers, have the opportunity to work together.

Ferdousi Quadri, vaccine researcher and scientist, said “The quality of the tests which are being conducted at present needs to be controlled. But it is seen that the test kits are being changed every few days. Samples are being stored in normal saline instead of VTM which is reducing the quality of the sample.”

Bangladesh has so far reported 4,998 coronavirus cases and 140 deaths.