Bangladesh requests Canada for 2 million shots of AstraZeneca vaccine

Bangladesh features requested Canada to supply several million shots of AstraZeneca vaccine on an emergency basis for inoculating people with the next dose, as the chance of getting vaccines from India is now very low.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen built the request to Canadian Superior Commissioner on Bangladesh Benoit Préfontaine when the latter called on the subject of the minister at the overseas ministry today.

Stating the emergency require of just one 1.6 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to provide second doses in Bangladesh, he underscored that is currently a high priority for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and Beximco Pharmaceuticals signed a deal with the Serum Institute in India to procure 30 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine but sole 10.2 million doses were received from India, which includes halted export of vaccines because of its popular amid severe Covid-19 infections.

Referring to a recently available affirmation of Canadian Procurement Minister Anita Anand that Canadian authorities might distribute extra stockpiles of AstraZeneca vaccine among growing countries, Momen urged the envoy to pursue the matter with his government to ensure that Bangladesh receives for least two million doses in an emergency basis.

He as well said such way to obtain vaccine should be directly delivered to Bangladesh, as has been done for some other countries want Pakistan, instead of through the COVAX programme.

He also proposed that Canada can help vaccinating the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh separately.


Bangladesh is also trying to obtain vaccine from various other countries including China, Russia and the US.

In response, Canadian Huge Commissioner assured the minister of next up the request along with his government.

Momen reiterated Bangladesh's expectation that Canada would extend Duty No cost Quota Free (DFQF) access to Bangladeshi export goods till 2027, and also would commence negotiating a free of charge Trade Agreement (FTA) or perhaps Preferential Trade Contract (PTA) with Bangladesh in the near future.

He also reminded of Bangladesh's strong expectation that Nur Chowdhury, the convicted killer of the daddy of the country Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will be returned to Bangladesh in the forseeable future.

High Commissioner Préfontaine said that Canada would continue its humanitarian support for displaced Rohingyas and host communities at the same scale for next three years, just as was reflected in their budgetary framework for subsequent three years.

He also underscored that Canada is willing to enhance its financial cooperation with Bangladesh, including found in regions of trade and investment.