Pay attention to research: Zafrullah urges govt

Founder and Trustee of the Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury Monday urged the government to pay attention to the research, not just to the businesspeople.

He made the request at a meeting with journalists in the afternoon at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital, over the identification of the genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant.

Jafrullah said, "If we concentrate, coronavirus research can be done on a large scale. All the corona vaccines that young researchers in Bangladesh have heard of can be produced in the country in six months.

"At present, Bangladesh has a $43 billion reserve. This is very good news. The government must ensure that the businessmen do not gobble up the money. I would like to request the government to invest only half a billion dollars in research. Research can be carried out in all the public universities of the country, but they must be given the opportunity to do so. This research is essential for the welfare of every single person in the state."

Skilled researchers from the Gonoshasthaya-RNA Molecular Diagnostic and Research Centre, the Department of Microbiology of Jahangirnagar University and the Department of Pharmacy of BRAC University have sequenced the entire genome of the SARS-CoV-2 variant from clinical samples obtained.

During the meeting, researchers said the South African coronavirus-like (E484K) mutations have been found in Bangladesh. Mutations are a common feature of any virus. The virus constantly changes its properties, and the coronavirus is no different in that respect. At the same time, vaccine-producing companies need to change the nature of the corona vaccine.

They urged the government to complete the inoculations as soon as possible. The sooner people can be vaccinated, the better the spread of corona-related diseases can be stopped. The development of any serious mutation in the corona will also be hindered in future.

Among others, the meeting was also addressed by Head of nephrology department of Gonoshasthaya Social Medical College Hospital Dr Professor Mamun Mustafi, Chairman of the department of microbiology Mahbubur Rahman, and Assistant Professor of Microbiology department of BRAC University Mohammad Rayed Zamiruddin.