Consider us equally for Covid-19 management jobs: biotech graduates

Bangladesh Association of Biotechnology Graduates (BABG) demanded that the genetic engineering and biotech graduates, who are already working as frontline fighters in Covid-19 management, should be considered equally for Covid-19 testing, laboratory setup and any associated technical posts during recruitment.

In a press statement, they expressed frustration over an office order and a press release issued by the DGHS.

On June 10, twenty molecular biologists were appointed on a temporary basis through an office order by DGHS.

BABG said they acknowledged the appointment of the molecular biologists as a very timely and legendary decision by the DGHS. At the same time, over fifty graduates who hold a graduate or post-graduate degree from the departments of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology are serving as frontline fighters on a completely voluntary basis to manage the Covid-19 pandemic at different places in the country by directly helping to set up laboratories and conduct tests.

"We would like to emphasise that the theoretical background paired with their experience of the past 3-4 months should have made these graduate volunteers competent enough to be considered the most eligible ones in the list."

"However, with great regret, we could not see any reflection of that in the appointment process. On this ground, an utter frustration is evident among the students and graduates of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology who have been working on a completely voluntary basis, motivated by patriotism," read the press release.

"From the BABG, we sincerely request that the graduates of three research-oriented disciplines – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – should be considered equally for the posts related to the technical tasks of molecular biology in Covid-19 testing. Regulations for appointment in this accord is a crying need," the press release added.

While the number of testing laboratories has greatly increased and still increasing, it is equally significant that biosafety and biosecurity are properly maintained. All these procedures are very critical scientific techniques and its proper performance necessitates personnel with both theoretical and practical skills and experiences on the subject matters, they said.

On the other hand, some guidelines have been issued by the DGHS on Covid-19 testing and treatment in private hospitals which can be found on www.corona.gov.bd website. In paragraph "A (Requirement for a laboratory)"of the guidelines, the point "g" includes microbiologists, biochemists and molecular biologists, virologists and medical technologists for the post of Trained Laboratory Personnel.

However, the guideline avoided the inclusion of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology graduates once again, they mentioned.