‘Minister’ making ventilators locally

FE DESK | Published: April 19, 2020 21:03:32

Minister, a Bangladeshi electronics manufacturing company, has taken an initiative to locally manufacture ventilators amid novel coronavirus outbreak in the country, says a statement.
The government's ICT Division, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), a good number of public and private hospitals, and some biomedical engineers from BUET have been assisting Minister in making quality ventilators, a product the country badly needs for its fight against the deadly virus.
In a recent online interview, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak said with the help of the world-renowned medical device manufacturer, Medtronic, several local electronics manufacturers, including Minster, have been producing ventilators. "We are extremely optimistic that the ventilators will be produced within the shortest time in our country," he added.
FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim said that Minster Hi-Tech Park Electronics Limited has developed a prototype of ventilator which, after the permission of the Ministry of Health, the company will start its production in fullswing. "The FBCCI will purchase 10 per cent of the first production and supply them to hospitals dealing with COVID-19 patients, the health ministry and other hospitals from the next production lot, as required," he said.
"This is another attempt by the FBCCI to stand by Bangladesh's health system and people. FBCCI extends its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the Minster Hi-Tech Park Electronics Limited," he added.
Chairman of Minster Hi-Tech Park Electronics Limited and FBCCI Director Mr. M A Razzaq Khan (Raj) said, "Minster Hi-Tech Park Electronics Ltd is working to develop ventilator for the people of the country which is very important for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Next week we will be producing 100 units of ventilator. After that, we will produce 500, 1000 unit and later as required. The cost of this ventilator will be between BDT Tk 75,000-85,000. We have no business purpose here but we want to serve the people of this country through the supply of ventilators. We would like to hand these over to the Prime Minister, for use in hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19."
He mentioned that many people, including Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Sheikh Fazle Fahim and FBCCI Senior Vice President Muntakim Ashraf were cooperating with them.
Minster Hi-Tech Park Electronics is currently working on manufacturing oxygen ventilation equipment at its factory. Also, machines have already been brought in for mask production, and mask production is also underway. It will start manufacturing this emergency medical equipment within this month.