Bijon Sil leaves Bangladesh over visa trouble

Eminent scientist Bijon Kumar Sil on Sunday morning left Dhaka with heavy heart for Singapore after he was denied an extension of his work permit even after repeated attempts.

Internationally famous scientist Bijon was Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s antibody kit development team leader.

‘I have reached Singapore safely and now in quarantine at a hotel,’ said Bijon over phone around 11:30am on Sunday.

Bijon, before leaving the country, told New Age that he tried to get an extension of his work permit but failed.

‘I will try to get work visa. If the government issues me one, only then will I be able to return,’ he said, adding that ‘I would have to do something for the people of the country.’

He also regretted the fact that he had to pass time without engaging in any work since his visa validity expired on July 1.

Bijon is a Bangladesh-born Singapore citizen who came to Bangladesh in February.

‘The love and support I have had the chance to receive from people of the country will continue to inspire me to come back again to serve the people to the utmost of my abilities,’ Bijon said in an emotion-choked voice.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra press adviser Jahangir Alam Mintu said that at a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Bijon left the country from Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport around 7:30am.

Bijon, a microbiologist, developed rapid test anti-body kit to test COVID-19 patients but the government is yet to give permission for its public use.

He worked as chairman of microbiology department of Gono Bishwabidyalay at Savar and researched at GK’s RNA-Lab.

He promised that he would continue his research wherever he lived.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net