Bangladesh approves proposal to buy Chinese Covid-19 vaccine at $10 per dose

Bangladesh government has approved a proposal for purchasing 1.5 crore doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines from China at $10 per dose.

The decision was taken at the 19th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase on Thursday. 

"Fifty lakh vaccines will arrive in Bangladesh each month from June, July and August,"  Additional Secretary Shahida Akter disclosed it at a briefing after the meeting.

The cabinet committee also approved the "Covid-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness" project by the Health Department. 

Under the project, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will procure 1,154 personnel and 48 vehicle services (outsourcing) from UNFPA at a cost of Tk 133.75 crore. 

On 29 April, the Department of Drug Administration of Bangladesh gave approval for emergency use of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in the country.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government wrote a "letter of interest" to China proposing to buy four-five crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine by December.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming handed over 5 lakh doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh as "special gift" from his country on May 12.