ADB to provide Bangladesh $940 million in aid to buy vaccine
Its country director for Bangladesh highly praised the prime minister’s dynamic leadership in managing the pandemic
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said it will provide Bangladesh with $940 million in assistance to purchase Covid-19 vaccines.
During a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital on Tuesday, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash also highly praised the prime minister's dynamic leadership in managing the Covid-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination programme successfully.
The prime minister's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas briefed the media after the meeting, reports BSS.
"To help expedite the economic recovery from the pandemic, the ADB is discussing with the government a proposal for $940 million in assistance for Bangladesh's vaccine programme," Emrul quoted the ADB country director as saying.
During the meeting, the prime minister informed Parkash that her government had been prioritising the construction of Dhaka-Barishal-Patuakhali-Payra rail lines.
Parkash appreciated Hasina's timely decision to open all the sectors of the economy in phases, for which normalcy had been restored in the economy and also in the GDP growth, Emrul said.
The ADB country director lauded the government measures relating to vaccination of the people, saying that Bangladesh is one of the three countries in Asia conducting the Covid-19 vaccination campaign successfully.
Parkash handed over to the prime minister 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".
Prime Minister's Office Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was also present at the meeting.