Bangladesh to deposit Tk 600cr on Sunday to procure vaccines
January 3, 2021
Bangladesh Desk: The Bangladesh government will deposit over Tk 600 crore to the account of Serum Institute of India (SII) on Sunday for procuring Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed the matter on Saturday.
The SII, local manufacturer of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, will be paid the money in advance and the rest of the amount after start of supplying the vaccines, the DGHS sources said.
Earlier, the DGHS, on behalf of Bangladesh, signed a contract with the SII and Beximco Pharmaceuticals of Bangladesh for buying the vaccines.
According to the clauses of the contract, Serum Institute of India will return the money to Bangladesh if it becomes unable to deliver the vaccines by the next June.
Bangladesh is likely to receive the first shipment of 50 lakh AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India in the first week of January if everything goes well, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque while exchanging opinion with journalists in Manikganj on Saturday.
