The Department of Explosives on Tuesday directed five oxygen-producing companies to divert the supply of oxygen intended for industrial establishments to hospitals for medical use.
The five oxygen producers are Linde Bangladesh, Spectra Oxygen Limited, Islam Oxygen Limited, DR Industries Limited, and Messrs. Bangladesh Industrial Gas Limited.
Chief Inspector of Explosives Abul Kalam Azad in a letter directed to cut off the supply of oxygen for industrial use.
Oxygen can be supplied to hospitals and clinics only, he said in the letter.
As the number Covid-19 patients have recently increased, hospitals and clinics are in need of rapid medical oxygen support due to reduced oxygen saturation of patients severely infected with the coronavirus, the letter reads.
In the current situation, hospitals and clinics are not getting medical oxygen as per the demand.
“In this situation, it is necessary to increase medical oxygen production and maintain uninterrupted oxygen supply to the hospital clinic to ensure emergency health care,” Azad added in the letter.
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A large portion of the country's total oxygen demand comes from India through Benapole — the only land port through which liquid oxygen is imported into the country.
However, India imposed a ban on industrial oxygen supply and oxygen exports from April 22 to meet its domestic demand.
Abdul Jalil, acting director of Benapole Land Port, said the last oxygen shipment was imported on April 21.
He added that over 6,000 tons of oxygen were imported In FY2020-21, but he could not specify how much oxygen was imported in previous years.
The demand for oxygen has already increased by 40% in comparison with the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, according to oxygen production industry sources.
Farid Mia, director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said that despite the deteriorating situation, they were now preparing to get the oxygen the country needs.
"We are meeting with various oxygen producers all day. We have asked small companies to increase production. We have asked them to produce oxygen for medical purposes, without producing for any industrial plants.”
Saiqa Mazed, an official of Linde Bangladesh, said they were also prepared to import if the government seeks more oxygen supply.
But earlier in the day, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said there is no shortage of oxygen in the country.
