COVID-19: India Gifts Bangladesh 1 Lakh HCQ Tablets, 50,000 Surgical Gloves

India has been at the forefront of sending essential medical supplies and medicines such as anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to several nations including the United States

(Representative Image/ Getty)

Dhaka: India gifted one lakh anti-malarial tablets of hydroxychloroquine and 50,000 surgical gloves to Bangladesh to support its battle against the coronavirus pandemic which has infected nearly 5,000 people and killed over 100 in the country. Riva Ganguly Das, India's High Commissioner, on the occasion of India dispatching the second tranche of assistance to Bangladesh, invoked legendary poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore to highlight the importance of India-Bangladesh relations. Bdnews24.com reported she handed over the supplies to Health Minister Zahid Malik consisting of 100,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets and 50,000 sterile surgical latex gloves. The minister said a helping hand from our neighbor at this time of distress is most welcome. She said on March 15, India took the initiative and organized a conference of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation leaders on the pandemic during which a SAARC emergency fund was launched. Das further stated under the initiative, today we gifted Bangladesh government one lakh medicines and 50,000 surgical gloves which can be used by healthcare professionals. Earlier, India gifted headcovers and masks for medical professionals, she said. The India-Bangladesh relationship is very deep. We are neighbors. In our neighborhood first' policy, we always say Bangladesh first'. We are with you. We have always been with you. We were with you in the past too and will remain with you in the future as well. Stay indoors, stay safe. I am absolutely confident that the crisis which we are dealing with, we will come out victorious. Thank you, Das said. The envoy said along with this, India has launched an initiative to conduct online courses that could help the medical professionals. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur conducted a course which was attended by many people from Bangladesh, she said, adding that another course will be conducted soon. India has been at the forefront of sending essential medical supplies and medicines such as anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to several nations including the United States. Bangladesh has reported nearly 5,000 COVID-19 cases and 140 deaths due to the disease. The Bangladeshi government has announced a USD 11.6 billion stimulus package to support its economy, with a primary focus on supporting the manufacturing and service sectors, agriculture, and social safety nets.