Toronto, April 22: Bangladesh has agreed to join in an alliance under China along with Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, without India, to vaccinate against the pandemic coronavirus (Covid-19). Bangladesh has agreed to this, said Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
The minister said China wants to form an alliance with six countries under South Asia Storage for Covid Vaccine Facilitation, so if these allied states needs vaccine in case of emergency. Bangladesh has no objection to remain in this alliance without India. Other countries, including Bangladesh, have already agreed to China’s initiative. Roughly six countries have agreed to this, the task of this alliance will be to save the covid vaccine. However, the alliance has not been finalized yet, talks are underway.
Dr. Momen confirmed that besides Bangladesh, there are four other countries, namely Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in this initiative of China.
As the Corona situation deteriorates in India, there is uncertainty about getting vaccines from the country. Thus, if the situation remains unchanged, there will be no opportunity to export vaccines in the next two to three months, said the Seram Institute, a vaccine manufacturing company in India produces COVISHIELD under license from AstraZeneca-Oxford University.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy told reporters as he entered Bangladesh through the Agartala-Akhaura border on Thursday that there was a global crisis over the corona vaccine. The demand is much higher than the supply. However, so that Bangladesh can continue the vaccination activities, that cooperation will be provided by India.
