The government has begun administering Covid-19 vaccines to foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka.
The vaccination program for foreign diplomats was inaugurated at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali on Wednesday.
Around 30 diplomats – from the Vatican City, India, the European Union such as Germany, France and Italy, Turkey, Australia and many other countries – received their first dose of the vaccine on the first day, according to media reports.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen also received their jabs on the occasion.
A foreign diplomat receive Covid-19 vaccine at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 PID
Shahriar Alam said all 1,200 of the diplomats would receive vaccines in turn. The authorities would administer vaccines to the diplomats in two to three days every week at the hospital from now on.
He said the government was also preparing a list of foreigners working in the country outside of the foreign missions as they would also get vaccinated at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen receive Covid-19 vaccine at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 PID
"They [diplomats] are just as confident as we are about vaccinations," the state minister said.
Highlighting Bangladesh's success in vaccination, Shahriar Alam said: "Many countries in the world have not yet started vaccination programs at this level. We have already vaccinated over 100,000 people till Tuesday."
The state minister also said that the foreign ministry was continuing its diplomatic activities to get more vaccines.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam speaking after receiving Covid-19 vaccine at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 PID
"We expect to receive a large number of vaccines under the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in the coming days," he said.
Archbishop George Koshari, dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Dhaka, said: “I sincerely thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for initiating the vaccination on behalf of the diplomats here. I applaud this initiative as the Covid-19 pandemic has had a serious impact in different parts of the country.”
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami said: “This event is a reflection of the level of cooperation between Bangladesh and India. The two countries are running vaccination programs at the same time.”