ADB Praises PM's Leadership in COVID Fight

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic and successful leadership in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination programme.

ADB Country Director in Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash came up with the appreciation when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.

The ADB will provide US$ 940 million as assistance to Bangladesh to procure the COVID-19 vaccines, said Parkash.

PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told UNB after the meeting.

"To help expedite the economic recovery from the pandemic, ADB is discussing with the government about a proposal for US$ 940 million in assistance from ADB's APVAX Facility for Bangladesh's vaccine programme," the ADB country director was quoted as saying.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said her government has been attaching priority to constructing the Dhaka-Barishal-Patuakhali-Payra rail line.

Prakash appreciated Sheikh Hasina’s timely decision to relax the COVID-driven shut down in all the sectors of the economy in phases saying that the normalcy in Bangladesh's economy, its GDP growth and remittance has been restored due to the timely decision.

He lauded the government’s COVID-19 vaccination measures saying that Bangladesh is one of the three Asian countries that are successfully conducting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Parkash handed over an ADB book titled “Asia's Journey to Prosperity: Policy, Market, and Technology Over 50 Years” and three volumes of “Southwest Bangladesh Economic Corridor Comprehensive Development Plan” to the Prime Minister.

PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present at the meeting.