Bangladesh, which sent Covid 19 medicines including the broad-spectrum drug Remdesivir earlier this month, has provided a second consignment of medical supplies to India. 

According to Dhaka Tribune, Towfique Hasan, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata handed over 2,672 boxes of medicine and protective items  to the representative of Indian Red Cross Society at Petrapole. The newspaper reported that four covered vans containing 18 different  kinds of Covid-19 related medicines, including antibiotics, paracetamols, different kinds of injections/vials and hand sanitizer reached the Benapole-Petrapole land port on Tuesday.

“The medical supplies produced by Essential Drugs Co Ltd were sent to India by the Health Ministry as per the instructions of (Bangladesh) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Delivery was coordinated and facilitated by the Foreign Ministry,” the Dhaka Tribune report said.

"The gesture is important as it goes on to show the new era in bilateral ties that has now developed between the two neighbours. It also reflects that the leadership of both countries are now focused on the overall development of the region," an analyst said.

Earlier Hasina reiterated “Bangladesh’s resolve to stand by closest neighbour India in critical times, and expressed readiness to offer support in every possible way.”

Meanwhile, according to a Crisil report, India’s Covid-19 affliction curve has turned for the first time since the second wave began, with daily cases in the week ended May 16 falling 15 per cent sequentially.

The major affected states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have reported fewer new infections, it noted. On May 6, India reported 4.14 lakh new cases– the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic. The recovery rate has also improved to 84.8 per cent as of May 16 from 82.2 per cent on May 9.