U.S. Embassy Dhaka distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to Dhaka Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Security Division in support of its COVID-19 response efforts.
DHAKA, August 24, 2020 – United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Embassy representatives of the Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office provided essential personal protective equipment (PPE) to Mohammad Ashraful Islam, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Diplomatic Security Division (DSD) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for distribution to the members of DSD as part of continued U.S. support for Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response efforts. This is the seventh in a series of planned PPE distributions from the United States to Bangladesh. To date, the United States, through the Departments of State, Defense, and Agriculture, USAID, and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, has provided more than $56.5 million in aid to combat COVID-19 in Bangladesh.
The U.S. Embassy Dhaka-donated equipment delivered on August 23, 2020 includes 1,000 KN95 masks, 2,000 washable face masks, 800 250-milliliter bottles of hand sanitizer, and 1,400 face shields, all of which the United States purchased locally from Bangladeshi companies. An equal number of PPE also will be donated for distribution to the Armed Police Battalion -1 (APBn) and the Immigration Police Unit.
The Diplomatic Security Division is on the frontline of defense against COVID-19. They play a key role in Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response as they implement Ministry of Health (MoH) safety regulations and health initiatives to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This PPE donation helps ensure police personnel remain protected in their high-risk role as first responders to safeguard the communities and the people living in Bangladesh.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. government, through the Department of State and USAID alone, has committed more than $1.6 billion worldwide in emergency health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance specifically aimed at helping governments, international organizations, and NGOs fight the pandemic. U.S. Embassy Dhaka is providing assistance to organizations throughout Bangladesh, building on more than $1 billion in health assistance delivered to Bangladesh over the past 20 years. This funding emphasizes the long-term U.S. commitment to helping ensure access for all people in Bangladesh to quality, lifesaving healthcare.
U.S. Embassy Dhaka is proud to donate this essential PPE to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Security Division, who are working diligently to protect local communities against the spread of COVID-19. This donation is in addition to previous donations from the U.S. Embassy, including recent contributions to Bangladesh Customs Department officials, Kamalapur Railway General Hospital, USAID’s food security programs, Armed Forces Division, Bangladesh Police Headquarters, Bangladesh’s Fire Service and Civil Defence, and Bangladesh Prison corrections officers and staff working at the various institutions across the country. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Security Division and other law enforcement personnel, together with health care workers, customs officials, people who work in grocery stores and pharmacies, journalists, and volunteer organizations perform remarkable acts of service every day; they are genuine heroes. The United States remains committed to working in partnership alongside Bangladesh to fight this pandemic and to further strengthening our countries’ already deep ties.
