The first whole genome sequence of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) from Bangladesh was unveiled today, 12 May 2020. It was sequenced at the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF). The COVID-19 sequencing team is led by Scientist Dr. Senjuti Saha, who uploaded the sequencing data to GISAID to share with the scientific community on behalf of the organization.

For the last 15 years, the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, arranged by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has fostered international innovation and collaborations to address the biggest challenges in health and development. In the 2020 meeting, a spotlight was shone on the work done by Dr. Senjuti Saha, the Child Health Research Foundation, and all of Bangladesh.

COVID-19 has taken the entire world by storm. It is a rare time when all beings of all countries, nations, religions, the rich, the poor – all share the same anxiety, the same fear, the same disease. We are all in it together and it is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that we fight through this together.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). From December 2019 to 19 March 2020, there have been at least 218,000 cases worldwide, and at least 8,800 deaths.