Rotary International handed over a 15-bed state-of-art High Dependency Unit (HDU) to the authorities of Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka yesterday.

Through Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Dhaka, Rotary Club of Metropolitan Dhaka and Rotary Club of Uttara jointly built the HDU worth around Tk 2.15 crore.

India's Rotary Club of Jodhpur, Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium and Rotary Club of Vellore collaborated in the effort as the international partners, according to the organisers in Dhaka.

Immediate Past District Governor of Rotary Club Md Rubayet Hossain inaugurated the HDU while Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi joined virtually as the chief guest and Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation as special guest.

In his speech, Tipu Munshi, also a member of Rotary Club of Uttara, said, "Covid-19 is not over yet. This HDU would help in the fight against Covid-19. We [Rotary] will continue our humanitarian efforts."

Brig Gen Jamil Ahmad, director of the hospital, said, "The equipment installed in this new HDU are equivalent to the ones used in the ICU. As we fear another wave of Covid-19 in the coming months, this HDU would be of great help to treat patients."

Julhas Alam, president of Rotary Club of Uttara, Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui, governor of Rotary District-3281, and DGN TIM Nurul Kabir spoke, among others.