Walton donates Tk 3cr to PM Relief Fund

Staff Reporter: The local multinational electronics brand ‘Walton’ has donated Tk 3 crore to the Prime Minister’s (PM) Relief Fund aimed to stop the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

In addition, Walton has been distributing 65,000 PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) among the health workers of different hospitals. Also, the local brand is going to manufacture ventilators, along with various sorts of safety equipment, at their own factory.

Walton’s Deputy Managing Director Nazrul Islam Sarker handed over the donation cheque worth of Tk 3 crore to the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus at PM Office in the capital on Sunday evening last (March 29, 2020).

Walton’s Deputy Executive Director Sharif Harunur Rashid was also present.

From her resident ‘Gonobhavan’, PM Sheikh Hasina attended the donation handover ceremony through video conferencing.

During the function, the Walton officials informed the PM that Walton has been conducting a number of protective measures against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission. They will distribute 65,000 PPEs among the health workers, journalists and law enforcement agencies through public and private organisations. Also, they are conducting awareness and sanitization campaigns at around 20,000 points at a time across the country. Apart from these, Walton is going to manufacture ventilators as well as some sorts of PPE at its own factory. For which, necessary research work is going on. The equipment will be supplied very soon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her satisfaction on the Walton’s protective measures to prevent coronavirus transmission. She called upon all to work together to stop the coronavirus pandemic all over the country.

Already, Walton has started the distribution of PPEs among the health workers, law enforcement agencies and journalists. Among the PPEs, there are initially 5,000 units of each Cover off Protective Suit, Disposable Medical Mask, Safety Goggles and Head Cap; 5,000 pairs of each Disposable Gloves as well as Shoe Cover; and hand sanitizer.

Walton authorities handed over the PPEs to Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim at his Banani Residence in the capital on Monday evening (March 30, 2020).

Among others, former Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, Secreatry General of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad Prof. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Aziz, Directorate General of Health Services’ Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Dr. Ahmadul Hasan Khan.

Walton’s Deputy Executive Director Firoj Alam said, they have already distributed 15,000 units of PPEs, medical mask, hand glove and shoe cover. More 50,000 units are under process to deliver.

Earlier, Walton donated Tk 1 million to Bidyanondo Foundation, an education favourable voluntary organisation providing education, shelter, nutrition, healthcare and legal aid to the impoverished. The foundation is working for a number of 40,000 people who are struggling for meeting the demands of their daily essentials.

Walton is producing hand sanitizer in line with the prescribed formula of World Health Organization (WHO) and then distributing those all over the country at free of cost.

Besides, he said, Walton is providing Face Mask, Hand Gloves, Hand Sanitizer etc. to the journalists for preventing them from novel coronavirus transmission.


Dhaka/Milton Ahmed/Nasim