Foreign minister thanks Japan for AstraZeneca vaccines

Japan has sent 2.45 lakh AstraZeneca vaccines under the COVAX facility today.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki have received the vaccines at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3:00pm today.

This is the first consignment out of the 2.9 million vaccines that Japan will be providing to Bangladesh.

This comes as a good news for the 15 lakh Bangladeshis who got the first dose but were waiting for the second dose as India halted the export of AstraZeneca vaccines in March this year.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen thanked Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu for Japan's decision to provide 3 million AstraZeneca vaccines to Bangladesh through COVAX.

"We acknowledge with deep appreciation the continued assistance of Japan in facing the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, including the direct budgetary support," he said in a letter to his Japanese counterpart, reports UNB.

"We urge all for a global and united response for containing this pandemic, ensuring availability of vaccines on a global scale and mobility of resources to stimulate the global economy," Momen mentioned in his letter.

He also lauded Japanese Prime Minister Suga's leadership in hosting the Vaccine Summit on June 2 and committing vaccines and funds to combat the pandemic, added the UNB report.

"As we prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relation between our two friendly countries in 2022, I reaffirm that Bangladesh considers Japan as a true and trusted friend and also a reliable development partner," Momen said.  

He mentioned that both the countries are now working to upgrade the Bangladesh-Japan relationship from a 'Comprehensive Partnership' to the 'Strategic Partnership' level.