Bangladesh Urges 2mn Vaccine Doses from Canada

Bangladesh requested Canada on Tuesday to deliver at least 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine on an emergency basis in order to begin the second round of Covid-19 vaccination.

On Tuesday, when the High Commissioner of Canada in Bangladesh, Benoit Préfontaine, paid him a visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen made the call.

He stated that 1.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are urgently needed to administer second doses and that this is currently a top priority for Bangladesh.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the major topic of conversation with the Canadian ambassador was the prospect of acquiring the AstraZeneca vaccine from Canada to satisfy Bangladesh's immediate second dose vaccination requirements.

Foreign Minister Momen recalled that Bangladesh worked quickly to collect vaccine by signing an arrangement with the Serum Institute in India to buy 30 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, but that the country is currently in a tough situation because only 10.2 million doses of vaccine have arrived from India, and the chances of receiving more are slim owing to India's continuing large COVID-19 outbreak.

In response to Canadian Procurement Minister Anita Anand's recent declaration that the Canadian government may give excess AstraZeneca vaccine stocks to the developing countries, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister encouraged the Canadian High Commissioner to work with his government to ensure that Bangladesh obtains at least 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine on an emergency basis.

He further stated that such vaccine supplies should be provided directly to Bangladesh, as they have been for other nations such as Pakistan, rather than through the World Health Organization's COVAX program (WHO).

Canadian High Commissioner assured that he will follow up with Canadian Government about Bangladesh’s request to provide 2 million doses of vaccine immediately, which is also being followed up with the Canadian Government by Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister also suggested that Canada may assist with the vaccination of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh. He also appraised the Canadian High Commissioner on the government's efforts to obtain vaccine from nations like as China, Russia, and the United States.

He also thanked Canada for its continued strong political and humanitarian support for the Rohingya crisis, underscoring that sustainable return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is the solution.

Momen also reiterated Bangladesh’s expectation that Canada would extend Duty Free Quota Free (DFQF) access to Bangladeshi export products till 2027, and also would commence negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bangladesh soon.

He also reiterated Bangladesh’s strong expectation that Nur Chowdhury, the convicted killer of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, would be returned back to Bangladesh in near future.

High Commissioner Préfontaine stated that Canada would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced Rohingyas and host communities at the same level for the next three years, as indicated in their financial structure.

He also stated that Canada is eager to expand its economic ties with Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of trade and investment.