Hasina: S Korea to help Bangladesh build a vaccine production facility

Bangladesh’s prime minister made the announcement while only 3.5 per cent of the country’s population got one dose against COVID-19. COVAX pledged to deliver a million new doses by August, but the virus continues to spread.

Dhaka (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Bangladesh will sign an agreement with South Korea to establish an international institute to produce vaccines, including for COVID-19.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the announcement today in reply to a question tabled in Parliament about the country’s vaccination campaign.

“The matter of ratification and approval of the Cabinet is under process,” the Prime Minister explained, noting that her government has taken the initiative to produce COVID-19 vaccines in the country, as well as import them from foreign sources.

Hasina noted that bilateral talks are underway with countries that have already developed vaccines so that Bangladesh can acquire necessary technologies.

She added that three Bangladeshi firms – Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Popular Pharmaceuticals, and Healthcare Pharmaceuticals – have already been vetted regarding their capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines, while Globe Biotech Ltd is currently examining bangavax, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

The evolving pandemic in Bangladesh continues to worry. So far, only 5,822,177 people or 3.5 per cent of the population have been given at least one dose of a COVID -19 vaccine. The current positivity rate stands at 16.62 while 3,956 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours with 60 deaths (13,282 since the start of the pandemic).

India's decision to curtail its exports has heavily penalised Bangladesh. The country’s Health Minister, Zahid Maleque, announced that COVAX, the World Health Organisation’s initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19, pledged a million doses by August. But more are needed.

With regard to the agreement with South Korea, it is part of a broader plan of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Noting that South Korea played a key role in developing Bangladesh's garment industry, making it the world's second-largest exporter, South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-Keun highlighted the importance of furthering bilateral trade in other sectors such as bio-pharmaceuticals and ICT.

• bangladesh
• south korea
• india
• covid-19
• pharmaceutical industry
• economic development
• garment sector