A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday (Aug 16) among the Bangladesh government, Sinopharm and Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd on co-production of Sinopharm vaccine in the country. The signing ceremony was held at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) in the city, an official release said.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque attended the signing ceremony as the chief guest while Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was present at the ceremony as the guest of honour. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming, Director General of Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam and Incepta Chairman Abdul Muktadir and senior officials of different relevant organizations, among others, were present at the function with Secretary of Health Service Division Lokman Hossain Mian in the chair.
Terming China as a tested friend of Bangladesh, the health minister said the Chinese government has extended their sincere cooperation to Bangladesh for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The signing of MoU between Bangladesh and China is a milestone initiative... today's MoU will play a significant role in bringing 80 percent people of the country under vaccination coverage by 2022," he added.
Under the MoU, Maleque said Bangladesh will start vaccine production at the shortest possible time, which eventually will accelerate the ongoing vaccine campaign across the country.
The health minister said Bangladesh has so far collected three crore vaccines from different countries. "Of them, 1.5 crore people received the first dose of vaccine while 54 lakh people received second shots of inoculation. Roughly one crore vaccines have been stocked in Bangladesh," he added.
He said 50 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine will arrive in Bangladesh this month from China. "We will also collect vaccine from Russia alongside China to fulfill the target of inoculating 80 percent people by next year."
