The chemistry department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) has started making hand sanitizers in an effort to combat the coronavirus epidemic.
The initiative, launched on March 16, is being run by Professor Shakhawat H Firoz, Lecturer Kauser Ahmed, and 10 volunteers, with support from the chemistry department of the institution. It is being funded by current and former students of the university.
Other organizations such as Inovace Technologies, DYSIN Chemicals Ltd, Manush Manusher Jonyo Foundation, Rokkhi, and Swapno Sarathi are also lending their hand to the cause at various capacities.
The project’s goal is to distribute hand sanitizers in hospitals and other medical institutions in Dhaka, free of cost.
Hand sanitizers are being widely used as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. Their increased usage has led to a shortage of such products in the market.
As of Wednesday, a total of five people were killed and 39 others infected of coronavirus across Bangladesh.
Covid-19, a new strain of coronavirus, which was first reported in China’s Wuhan has killed at least 16,558 people across the world and infected 381,649 till date. At least 102,429 people have recovered from the virus which has spread to 195 countries.
