China vaccine at ‘lower price’
The government would purchase 1.5 crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China at a lower price than the one mentioned in the previous agreement.
According to a finance ministry statement, the Cabinet Committee, chaired by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, yesterday approved a proposal regarding government procurement.
The minister said that a total of 15 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine -- 13 million of the previous agreement and two million newly proposed -- would be purchased at a lower price.
"We got a lower price than the previous price," he said.
Asked about the price, he said, "If you [journalists] ask me the price, we may face problems.
"These purchases are selective. For technical reasons, we could not tell you the details. I believe you will understand the situation and will express consensus with me."
He could not disclose the price because of strategic reasons, he said.
Asked about the time required for the arrival of the vaccine, the minister said everything was done including vetting by the law ministry and the ministry concerned could tell the details.
Issuing a press release, the finance ministry said the approval was given to purchase more vaccines if needed more Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.
The cabinet purchase committee on May 27 approved to purchase 1.5 crore doses of vaccine.
On July 1 and 2, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from the procured 1.5 crore vaccines.
Apart from the procured vaccine, Bangladesh received 11 lakh doses of the same vaccine in two phases as a gift from China.
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