Despite a government enforced red alert at Sona Masjid border, medical checkups at this immigration point, to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, are moving at a sluggish pace.
As a result, passport holders from India are entering Bangladesh without any checkup.
Civil Surgeon of Chapainawabganj Dr AKM Mozhar Hossain said, according to the directive of the Health Ministry, a 7-member medical team had been set up at Sona Masjid immigration point on August 11. The team consists of a medical officer, pharmacist, health inspector, medical assistant, health assistant, nurse and MLSS.
However, a recent visit to this, the second largest land port of the country, has revealed a different scenario. Incoming passengers were seen passing through immigration without any medical checkup.
There were no banners, designated areas or any efforts on the part of the medical team to examine the passengers for Ebola virus.
Having no seating area, members of the medical team were seen lazing around the check post. They alleged that Dr Kushol Kumar Bandha, the head of the team, had come to the spot only once after the team began their activities.
When contacted, Dr Kushol said in his defense that he could not visit as there was a lack of doctors at Shibganj Health Complex. He, however, did not have satisfactory answers as to the work being done by the medical team.
Abul Bashar, a sub-assistant medical officer, said according to the government notice, they had been working regular hours at the check post daily, but had not identified any Ebola virus patient yet. He admitted that their work was getting hampered due to infrastructural limitations.
Denying any allegation of inefficiency, Immigration Officer SI Ataur Rahman said they were aware of the situation and had been supporting the medical team to check passengers.
About 1200 hundred passengers, including passport holders, cross Sona Masjid point everyday in order to traveling between India and Bangladesh for work, business, medical and personal reasons. Local residents have urged the authority to step up the Ebola virus checkups in order to prevent any outbreak.