Linde Bangladesh has said it will continue the import of medical oxygen by train to supplement its local supply with active assistance from Linde India, the governments of India and Bangladesh.  This is one of several initiatives that Linde Bangladesh has embarked on to help support the fight against the current Covid-19 crisis, including the Medical Oxygen Booths inaugurated at Khulna Medical College Hospital earlier this week, it said. Read:Oxygen imported by pvt sector 'ready for unloading' in Benapole A spokesperson from Linde Bangladesh said the Oxygen Express was an initiative that Linde India worked on with the government of India, and “we’re glad to be able to adopt it for the growing crisis in Bangladesh as well.  The medical oxygen supply was sourced from Linde India plants in India and will be distributed to the Covid-19 dedicated hospitals nationwide.” Read:India working to resume vaccine export to Bangladesh, reiterates Doraiswami To meet the growing demand of medical oxygen in Bangladesh due to the rising Covid-19 cases, Linde Bangladesh on Saturday imported 200 MT of medical oxygen by train from India.  This first-of-its-kind initiative saw 10 ISO tankers being transported on the Oxygen Express from Jamshedpur, India and arrived at Bangabandhu West railway station via Benapole. Linde Bangladesh Limited is a member of The Linde PLc that has been present in Bangladesh since the 1950s.  Read: “Green Corridor” for oxygen tankers at ICP Petrapole A pioneer multinational company in the gases business, Linde Bangladesh has operations in Rupganj, Shitalpur and Khulna.  With close to 20 sales centers spread throughout the country, Linde Bangladesh serves over 35,000 customers from a wide array of industries - from hospitals to fabrication and from steel to food packaging and beverages.

Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths over the past few weeks, Khulna division is now clamouring for oxygen -- a component key in saving the lives of critical patients. While few hospitals in Khulna division have already run out of the life-saving gas, many other medical facilities are operating on the edge due to an acute shortage of oxygen. In the past week, seven breathless Covid-19 patients have died at Satkhira Medical College Hospital in Satkhira district due to the unavailability of oxygen. A probe has been ordered into the deaths on June 30. Also read: Dire situation at Jhenaidah as infections soar, Covid unit overrun, oxygen to run out in 3 days  In Khulna district, the largest specialised government hospital is overwhelmed by a sudden surge in Covid cases -- it has not only stopped corona testing but is also scrambling for beds and oxygen.

The authorities of Khulna Dedicated Corona Hospital have been scrambling to treat Covid-19 patents due to bed constraints as the number of patients continues to rise. According to hospital sources, in the past 24 hours, 50 new patients were admitted to the hospital while  47 returned home after recovery. Read: 10 Covid patients die in Khulna division The 100-bed hospital has been providing treatment to 130 patients with its limited staff and resources. Medical Officer of Khulna Civil Surgeon's Office Dr. Sheikh Sadia Monowara Usha said the positivity rate is 29 percent in Khulna. Khulna Covid Hospital Focal Person Dr. Suhas Ranjan Haldar said that the hospital is overcrowded. “We are being forced to keep patients on floor.  It is not possible to admit new patients if admitted ones are not discharged,” he said. Read: In Khulna, a scramble for Covid hospital beds Khulna Medical College Hospital principal Dr. Mehdi Newaz said doctors and health workers are struggling to handle such a huge number of patients.  

Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner ANM Faizul Haque visited UNB’s district correspondent Bisnu Proshad Chakrabortty at his home on Thursday afternoon. 

The Health Ministry is monitoring the health condition of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) correspondent Bisnu Prasad Chakrabortty, who fell sick after taking Coronavirus vaccine in Bagerhat.

A female student of Khulna University reportedly killed herself at her home in the city on Friday.

A collision between a bus and an easy-bike Saturday on the Khulna-Satkhira Highway killed three people.

A second police informer was hacked to death by yet unidentified attackers in Khulna’s Dighalia upazila on early Sunday.

A man, who has allegedly raped his own daughter, was arrested from Harintana in Khulna city around Tuesday midnight.   The arrestee was identified as Shahidul Islam, 36, son of Jahangir Alam of the area.   Quoting locals, police said the victim used to live with her mother and three brothers in Harintana after Shahidul left them two years ago.   He returned recently and has been living with them.   He allegedly raped his 14-year-old daughter when her mother and brothers had gone out for work.   The victim informed her grandmother about her ordeal on Tuesday.   Police arrested Shahidul around midnight from the area with the help of locals, said Kanailal Sarkar, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police.   The victim was sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital for medical test. A spurt in rapes and violence against women has triggered countrywide protests, prompting the government to revise the highest punishment for rape to death penalty.   Read Also: Anti-rape protest: Women in Dhaka march to break the shackles

A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a policeman at Madhupur in Terokhada upazila of the district on Monday.