Dhaka, March 27 -- The government's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research had been conducting the tests on samples from oversees returnees only since the outbreak begun in China.

The tests expanded to close contacts of the returnees when they started falling ill. Only the IEDCR had the capacity to conduct the test in its lab in Dhaka.

Bangladesh reported the first three cases - two returnees from Italy and a close contact of one of the expatriates - on Mar 8. After the first death reported last week, the government said it is expanding testing facilities to some other facilities in the capital and beyond.

The three facilities designated for the coronavirus test in Dhaka are the Institute of Public Health, Dhaka Shishu...