In what is seen a major step towards standardising face mask production in the country, Bangladesh has come up with guideline with ‘minimum requirements’ for non-medical fabric mask production. As per reports, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) with technical advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and supported by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research-Bangladesh (ICDDRB) and FAO in coordination developed and elaborated specifications and minimum testing requirements for fabric masks. The United Nations in association with development partners led by WHO supported the Government in this direction and is seen as an important step towards ensuring safe production of face masks by making available guidelines to the readymade garment sector of the country and help it and the NGOs to join the fight against coronavirus pandemic. The UN has maintained that the activity has been carried out under the Bangladesh Preparedness and Response Plan. The new standards and quality control parameters are reportedly available online on DGDA website at http://www.dgda.gov.bd/index.php/news/item/58.
