All-out preparation taken by govt to get vaccine quickly: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said the government has taken all-out preparations to get the Covid-19 vaccine quickly after it becomes available in the international market.

“With both government and non-government efforts, coordinated preparations have been taken to ensure the vaccine reaches doorsteps in easily and quickly,” he said at a facemask distribution programme for physicians at the Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office.

He joined the event through videoconference from his official residence on the parliament premises, reports BSS.

Under the initiative of Awami League’s sub-committee of relief and social welfare and sub-committee on health and population, high quality N-95 facemasks were handed over on the occasion for distribution among physicians.

The ruling party general secretary urged leaders and workers to conduct campaigns to raise consciousness among the people about abiding by health guidelines.

The future condition of the coronavirus cannot be predicted beforehand but the government has taken proper measures to face the situation, he added.

Quader said if a vested quarter did not want to take political advantage capitalising on the humanitarian crisis created by coronavirus pandemic, it would have been easier to face the situation.

He further said the government would continue its zero-tolerance policy against corruption and irregularities.

About BNP secretary general’s claim that the recent fire incident in the city’s three slums is mysterious, Quader said the incidents are definitely mysterious and investigation is underway to unearth the truth.

Investigation will reveal whether there was any conspiracy behind the fires to destroy the country’s peace, he said, adding that nobody will be spared if any evidence of conspiracy is found.

He said it is the BNP who carries out arson and shifts its liability to the government as it is their old habit.

Awami League Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Education and Human Resources Affairs Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present at the Dhanmondi office.