NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Bangladesh signed an agreement with the Serum Institute of India on Thursday to purchase 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccine developed by the Oxford University and being manufactured by British drug manufacturer AstraZeneca with which SII has trade agreement. AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be one of the most advanced campaigners in the fight against Coronavirus.
Serum Institute the, world’s largest producer of vaccines by volume has collaborated with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Gavi Vaccine Alliance to develop more than a billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine for global supplies.
Vikram Doraiswamy the high commissioner to Bangladesh yesterday tweeted, “Delighted by MOU b/w @SerumInstIndia, @BeximcoPharma + Min of Health for 30mn doses of COVID-19 Vaccine today. PM@narendramodi said in March: neighbourhood collaboration should be a model for the world. We have to fight this battle together @ we have to win together.”
After signing the agreement in Dhaka, Minister of Health Zahid Maleque in a press gathering said, “Once the vaccine is available, Serum Institute will dispatch 30 million doses in the first process, further 5 million doses of vaccines monthly will be obtained from Beximco Pharmaceuticals a, corporation in Bangladesh.
He added, “we are going to make available the vaccination to 15 million people, as two doses of vaccine are required for any citizen 28 days apart, and Serum Institute will supply the vaccine at a price close to that paid by India.”
Air Bubble between India and Bangladesh resumed:
The Air service has resumed between India and Bangladesh on Thursday under the air-bubble arrangement. Vistara airlines launched its biweekly flight from Delhi to Dhaka with the first flight arriving in Dhaka from Delhi on Thursday.
High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami welcomed the start of the new service by the Vistara airlines under the air-bubble arrangement.
In a tweet message, he stated, “New golden link between Shonar Bangla and #India as @airvistara starts Delhi-Dhaka full service, flatbed J class flights, first under #airbubble and soon regular service. Thank you, Minister Mahbub Ali and CAAB Chairman. Happy landings @abar daekha hobe. @HardeepSPuri.”
Welcoming, the resumption of service, Bangladesh State Minister for Civil Aviation Md. Mahbub Ali said “the air-bubble arrangement between the two countries has helped people who need to travel for medical, business and other purposes.” He pointed out that Bangladesh and India enjoyed excellent relations and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was working to further strengthen, people to people ties between the two countries.
The Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman and senior officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry and Vistara Tata SIA airlines were also present on the occasion.
(Venkatesh Iyer)