Want to procure 5mn doses of Sputnik V from Russia: FM

Bangladesh wants to procure five million doses of Covid-19 vaccine – Sputnik V – from Russia as soon as possible.

“Health Ministry is working to that end,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, adding that Bangladeshi companies are also interested in co-production of vaccines with Russia if the approval is given.

Outgoing Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander I. Ignatov met the Foreign Minister at his office on Sunday and discussed the issue.

Brazil has become the 67th country where Sputnik V is authorised for use. Sputnik V ranks second among coronavirus vaccines globally in terms of the number of approvals issued by government regulators.

The Foreign Minister sought cooperation from the outgoing Ambassador so that Bangladesh could procure vaccines from Russia quickly.

The Russian Ambassador is scheduled to leave Dhaka on June 8 as he wrapped up his tenure in Dhaka.

Earlier, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said 6.80 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available from the Covax facility under the World Health Organisation for 20 percent of its population, that is, for 3.40 crore people. Out of this, 1.06 lakh doses have already been received.