Stating that Bangladesh has already received 7 million Covid-19 vaccines from India, with more to come in due time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has challenged her critics saying – “What do they have to say now?”
The premier made the remark at the cabinet meeting in the National Parliament office on Monday afternoon, according to meeting insiders.
Sheikh Hasina said: “We have got 7 million Covid-19 vaccines from India till now and more vaccines will come gradually. First we got 2 million vaccines as a gift and today [Monday], we got 5 million more of the purchased vaccines. What do critics have to say now?”
After a 10-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the prime minister took part in the cabinet meeting in person. In the last 10 months, she participated in cabinet meetings virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban, while others participated from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Only six ministers, including Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and six secretaries took part in Monday’s cabinet meeting in compliance with health rules.
A senior minister, asking not to be quoted, said: “The prime minister told us about the development of the Covid-19 vaccine and asked ‘What do the critics have to say now? Because the vaccine has arrived already! But before the vaccine arrived, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, and some others criticized the government’s capacity. But what are they going to tell people today’?”
Other sources wishing anonymity also said: “The prime minister also expressed her satisfaction at the meeting as she had handed over around 70,000 homes to homeless people recently. She instructed us to look after those people and support her by providing information so that no one remains homeless in Bangladesh.”