Bangladesh offers emergency medicines and medical equipment to India to fight Covid-19 

In view of the rapidly deteriorating Covid-19 situation in India, the Government of Bangladesh has offered to dispatch on emergency basis medicines and medical equipment for the people of India who are fighting the pandemic across the country. 

These include approximately 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral anti-viral, 30,000 PPE kits, and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets, according to a press release of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Besides, the Government of Bangladesh has expressed deep sorrow and condolences at the loss of lives in India due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"Bangladesh stands in solidarity with close neighbor India at this critical moment and is ready to provide and mobilise support in every possible way to save lives. The thoughts and prayers of the people of Bangladesh are with the people of India for alleviating their sufferings. Bangladesh is interested to provide further support to India, if needed," said the release. 

India on Thursday saw a record single-day rise of 379,257 coronavirus cases, which pushed the total tally to 1,8,376,524, while the death count crossed two lakh following 3,645 fresh fatalities, according to Union health ministry data.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease is 1,50,86,878, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.12%, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Registering a steady increase, the active cases have risen to 30,84,814, comprising 16.55% of the total infections The death count stands at 2,04,832 the data stated.

International efforts are under way to help India as the country suffers critical oxygen shortages amid a devastating surge in Covid-19 cases.

The UK has begun sending ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices. EU members are also due to send aid.

The US is lifting a ban on sending raw materials abroad, enabling India to make more of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In Brussels, the European Commission said it planned to send oxygen and medicine too. 

India's neighbour Pakistan - which has tense relations with Delhi amid territorial disputes - offered medical equipment and supplies and its Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted prayers for a "speedy recovery".

Besides, Saudi Arabia on Sunday shipped 80 tons of liquid oxygen to India to assist the country with the treatment of skyrocketing numbers of Covid-19.