Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said India has assured Bangladesh of more deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines when the pandemic situation further improves in India.
The minister came up with the statement at the inaugural ceremony of the Bangabandhu Media Centre at the Press Club of India (PCI) in New Delhi on Monday, reports Indian Express.
The media centre has been set up with the support of the Bangladesh High Commission in India to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The PCI also got a life-size picture of Bangabandhu.
“Under the leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian PM Narendra Modi, the bilateral relationship has gone to a new height…. This media centre will help strengthen the cultural ties and the people-to-people contact between the two countries,” he said.
Bangladesh signed a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to procure 30 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Under the agreement, Bangladesh received seven million doses in two consignments until February.
“Unfortunately, the second wave of COVID-19 hit India a few months ago. That’s why we did not get further deliveries. But I must register my thanks to the Indian government and SII. Also, India gifted us some vaccines as well,” Hasan Mahmud said.
“And, as you had a domestic demand, many people were dying at that time… so domestic demand definitely was the top priority,” the minister said.
He said India tackled the second wave of coronavirus effectively and the infection rate has come down from over 25 per cent to 2 per cent which, he said, is a great achievement.
“I see how effectively the government of India and the people of India have faced the second wave because the rate of infection has gone down to around 2 per cent from more than 25 per cent which is a great achievement,” he added.
The information and broadcasting minister is now visiting India and will stay there till September 8.
