The COVID-19 vaccination programme formally begun in the country on Wednesday with Kurmitola General Hospital nurse Runu Veronica Costa received the first shot.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the programme at the hospital through videoconferencing from her Ganabhaban residence this afternoon.
Right before Runu received vaccine, PM asked her, "Are you afraid?" She replied, "No." Then the premier lauded her saying "You are a brave woman. Best wishes for you."
After her, four others - Kurmitola General Hospital doctor Ahmed Lutful Moben, the Directorate General of Health Services additional director general Prof Nasima Sultana, Motijheel unit traffic police member Didarul Islam, and Bangladesh Arm's Brigadier General M Imran Hamid - received vaccine one after another.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Malik, however, delivered the inaugural speech.
Bangladesh recently received a consignment of 2 million doses of 'Covishield', developed by Oxford University, and AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute of India, which India gifted as part of their neighborhood plus policy.