Dhaka, Friday


29 March 2024


Business Insider Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s request for vaccine doses under active consideration: US envoy

BI Report || BusinessInsider

Published: 00:43, 18 May 2021   Update: 02:47, 18 May 2021
Bangladesh’s request for vaccine doses under active consideration: US envoy

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam hold a meeting in Dhaka on Tuesday. Photo: Courtesy

The United States has said it is actively considering the request made by the Bangladesh government over the supply of Covid-19 vaccine doses to meet Bangladesh’s immediate needs.

Bangladesh will get a reply of the letter, sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, within the next couple of days.

“Two things he (Ambassador Miller) said. It’s (the request for vaccine doses) under active consideration and the Ambassador expects Bangladesh will get a reply as early as possible — within a day or two,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam after his meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller.

While talking to a small group of journalists at his office, the state minister said they will be waiting to know the content of the reply, report UNB.

Meanwhile, he said, US companies are in touch with the health ministry as they have a long-term plan of producing vaccines in Bangladesh.

The ambassador informed that the US government is exploring the possibilities to produce US vaccines in Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies.

Earl Miller and Shahriar Alam also discussed launching of the annual Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the humanitarian operations for displaced Rohingyas.

They also discussed bilateral issues between the two countries.

The US ambassador informed that the US will again be the largest contributor in the JRP for Rohingyas, which will be virtually launched on Tuesday and will be co-chaired by Shahriar Alam, said a press release.

He also stated that the US will continue its support to Bangladesh in bearing the burden of the displaced population.

The state minister emphasised that sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas remains as the priority of Bangladesh, and also emphasised on receiving international support for the displaced Rohingyas relocated to Bhashan Char.

Shahriar Alam expressed Bangladesh’s deep concern about the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict and reiterated Bangladesh’s position that the UN Security Council needs to take up the issue, as stated by Bangladesh Foreign Minister in OIC Executive Committee meeting recently.

He urged the US to take proactive role for stopping the bloodshed immediately. He also reiterated Bangladesh’s support for the two-state solution.

The state minister urged the US to provide timely visa interview slots for Bangladeshi students, observing that a large number of students are facing difficulties. The US ambassador assured that they are working on resolving the backlog created by the lockdown situation.

The state minister also observed that the recently published report by the US government on religious freedom in Bangladesh did not well reflect the ground scenario, as the government is making its best efforts to ensure communal harmony and non-discrimination in the country. Recalling that the present government has introduced the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act in 2011 under difficult situation, he emphasised on the government’s sincerity to resolve the issue. He also underscored that the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty in 1997 was also signed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, and the implementation of the Treaty is being held gradually.

Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said the government has sought immediate delivery of 4 million vaccine doses from the United States.

The US will share up to 60 million doses of its Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine with other countries as they become available.

“We’ve sought immediate release of four million doses of vaccine (in a letter sent to the US),” he told reporters, adding that he, however, sought a total of 10 to 20 million doses of vaccine from the US.

Momen said the government wants to continue the vaccination programme collecting vaccines from alternative sources.

The foreign minister had a meeting with Earl Miller at his office on Thursday.

Momen asked the US ambassador whether they provided any vaccine to India. In reply, Ambassador Miller said they have provided no vaccine to India yet.

The foreign minister said the US government needs permission from the Food and Drug Administration to export vaccines which is a time-consuming process. “But we need it immediately.”

Momen said they have also written to Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting for 3 million doses of vaccine to address Bangladesh’s immediate needs.

Bangladesh has received 7 million of Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift. This is the largest amount sent from India to any country.

Nagad
Walton