AUSTRALIA – BANGLADESH DEFENCE COOPERATION IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Australian High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer has handed over a consignment of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) to Lieutenant General Md Mahfuzur Rahman, OSP, rcds, ndc,
afwc, psc, PhD, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division.
Five tonnes of PPE, consisting of 12,000 high quality coveralls and 200,000 gloves, was
provided under the Defence Cooperation Program, funded through the Australian Department
of Defence.
“The Bangladesh Armed Forces are key frontline responders in the response to COVID-19 in
Bangladesh. This contribution underlines the strong relationship between the defence forces
of Australia and Bangladesh,” the High Commissioner said.
The delivery of the PPE, produced by Ansell, an Australian company, reflects Australia’s
commitment to standing by its regional neighbours in this challenging time.
Australia is working with its partners to support Bangladesh’s response to COVID-19,
including through providing crucial nutritional support, education and activities to support
economic recovery.
Through additional support to IOM and UNHCR, Australian Government funding has also
boosted the capacity of the local hospital in Cox’s Bazar district to serve the local community,
and supported the establishment of treatment and quarantine centres in the Rohingya refugee
camps.

Press release from Australian High Commission in Dhaka dated Aug. 27, 2020.