The government yesterday gave the nod to purchase 2 million bags of IV fluids, or injectable saline solution, to address the market shortage of this essential medicine used to treat dengue patients.

The decision was taken at the 21st meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs led by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

Briefing reporters after the meeting virtually, additional secretary Sayeed Mahbub Khan said 1.2 million bags of sodium chloride and 800,000 bags of glucose saline will be purchased.

The meeting also approved buying 1.45 crore litre edible oil, 27,000 tonnes lentil.

Md Nurul Alam, deputy director of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, told The Daily Star that as part of this purchase, they already received a consignment of 3 lakh saline bags from India.