This has resulted in death of a few patients in recent days.

Ekramunnesa, 50, of Shathirjan village under Sunderganj upazila in Gaibandha district died on Wednesday night. She was a patient of Ward No 2 and suffering from dyfunction of liver. She was admitted at about 4:00 pm.

Family members said to this correspondent she might have been survived if she was given oxygen on time. Her husband Shah Mujibor Rahman observed that internee doctors and nurses tried in vain after waiting for six hours for oxygen cylinder from the CCU.

Attendants of some critical patients are passing time in great anxiety due to this phenomenon.

When contacted, RMCH director Shahjahan Biswas admitted the fact. He said, 'We get less oxygen cylinder than the actual need'.

He also said shortage of oxygen becomes acute every winter as patients of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and cold diarrhea need life support. 'We face same situation every year,' he said.

He suggested to set up a tanker of oxygen for solving the crisis.

At present the hospital gets supply of liquid oxygen in cylinders from Dhaka.

Now oxygen cylinders are lying empty in all wards excepting CCU in the hospital, sources disclosed.