Bangladesh has sent its first consignment of personal protective equipment (PPE) to USA on the day of Eid-ul-fitr, report agencies.
Bangladesh joined a select group of countries that manufacture world-class, large-scale PPE through supplying the 6.5 million gowns to US brand Hanes on Monday, for ultimate delivery to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller attended a function and saw off the first shipment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahriar Alam said like the rest of the world, Bangladesh is also facing the toughest of times in trying to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.
“And in these trying times, it is remarkable to see that within this short span of two months Bangladesh was able to foray into this very regulated market with such a sensitive healthcare product, with just not ten or twenty thousand pieces but 6.5 million pieces. What an achievement,” he said, lauding Beximco for its contribution to the Bangladesh economy.
US Ambassador Miller said the event marked “the first major shipment of PPE into the US.”
As COVID-19 turned into a pandemic, it has become clear that there will be a desperate need for PPE to keep medical professionals and the general public safe.
Beximco has proudly joined the fight against the pandemic by moving swiftly to add manufacturing capabilities in PPE items such as gowns, masks and coveralls, said Beximco CEO and Group Director Syed Naved Husain.
He said the COVID-19 had changed how the world works, and that Beximco had to urgently respond. “In just two months, we’ve unleashed our world-class manufacturing, technical and design talent to switch over and start making personal protection equipment and help increase the supply of PPE which is urgently needed in Bangladesh and worldwide.”
The US Ambassador said all this happened in less than two months.
“US welcomes Bangladesh’s world-class large-scale PPE production to the global marketplace. The Beximco-Hanes partnership is another great example of how our two great nations are combating the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Commenting on the issue, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said Bangladesh has demonstrated its ability to meet global needs amid coronavirus pandemic by exporting personal protective equipment (PPE) to USA, reports UNB.
“Our businesspeople are very smart. They exported the first PPE consignment so quickly,” he said, reminding that some had mocked the prospect when he first spoke about such opportunities two months ago.
On March 23, Dr Momen told the media that USA had sent a list of 22 items that they would like to import from Bangladesh.