Despite ban, Bangladesh to get Indian vaccines in due time: Ministers

In the wake of India’s ban on export of Covid-19 vaccine for several months, the government has assured that the ban will not hamper the existing contract between the two neighbouring countries.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said that the neighbouring country will make a special arrangement to deliver the vaccines to Bangladesh in due time.

On information of the ban, Dhaka contacted the minister concerned of India this morning and Delhi informed that they do not know anything about the matter, Momen told Business Insider Bangladesh.

However, the foreign minister expressed his hope that India would make a special arrangement so that Bangladesh can get the vaccines in due time.

“We have already talked to the Indian foreign affairs ministry and I am hopeful that we will get a positive result in this regard immediately,” the foreign minister said this while talking to the correspondent.

India on Sunday asked Serum Institute not to allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for several months.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque during an emergency press conference on the news of India's ban, also echoed the foreign minister.

India's ban on the export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India (SII) will not be applicable to Bangladesh, he said, adding, "We have made an agreement with them."

"We are not fully aware of the ban, as we have heard. Our foreign ministry…talked to theirs. They have assured that the agreement will not be disrupted.”

The minister further noted that this agreement is also an international one and there is an obligation to honour the pact.

“The Indian government will apply vaccines to their country on an emergency basis. I have heard that they will stop selling (the vaccines) for the time being. We have good relations with India. We are hopeful that this will not be an issue.”

Zahid Maleque told the press conference that they had also applied to the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines.