Tk 1271cr approved to buy vaccine from India

The government has finally approved around Tk 1271 crore to buy 3 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine from India through the direct procurement method (DPM) as a matter of urgent state necessity.

The approval came at a virtual meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) held presided over by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday.

Kamal said, "Approval has been given to purchase 3 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca Oxford SARS-CoV-2, AZD1222) from Serum Institute of India through the direct procurement method (DPM) as a matter of urgent state necessity." 

The government will spend Tk 1271.55 crore to procure the jabs, the minister added.

Earlier on December 2 last year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave approval in principle to buy coronavirus vaccine.

Bangladesh, however, today 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.