Two Air Force planes leave for China to bring vaccine

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Two transport planes of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) left Dhaka for China on Saturday night to bring back 6 lakh doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said an agreement was signed with China for Covid-19 vaccine.

He said this at a virtual meeting at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Dhaka on Saturday. He, however, did not say anything else when and where the agreement was signed.

“We have planned production of vaccine. We also held several meetings,” he said, adding that disclosure agreement must be followed at any cost. “Otherwise, we’ll have to pay the price.”

The Health Minister also said, “We face a lot of criticism in spite of taking many steps to deal with coronavirus.”

He brought the allegation against the TIB of giving misinformation and telling lies.

“Though many countries have lauded us, TIB prepared a report criticising us in an air-conditioned room. TIB’s criticism about the health sector is not rational. TIB’s remarks about lack of transparency in injecting vaccine or the number of hospital beds was not raised conveyed wrong message,” he said.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport sources said the two C-130J aircraft departed for China on Saturday night and would likely to return with the vaccines around 5:30pm on Sunday.

This is the second consignment of vaccine doses that China is sending to Bangladesh as a gift. The first consignment of 5,00,000 doses were handed over on May 12.

On Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said a “very pragmatic” discussion was underway between Bangladesh and China on the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine doses to meet Bangladesh’s needs.

He also said there was “very encouraging progress” between the two countries over co-production of vaccines.