Govt to set up int’l standard vaccine centre: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament announced that her government is planning to set up an international standard vaccine institute aimed at producing vaccines in the country.
She said this while replying to a tabled question from Awami League lawmaker Anwar Hossain Khan of Laxmipur-1.
Highlighting the benefits of the institute, she said once it is established, it will ensure vaccine production, training on related research and technical assistance as well as enhance the capacity of local vaccine producing firms.
Moreover, the management of vaccine production, application and standards will be further time-befitting, she said.
Hasina said the institute will also ease the production of newly developed vaccines in the country, which will ensure the availability of vaccines at cheaper rates.
She further said establishing the institute will also pave the way for attaining WHO-prequalification for the new vaccine that might help in expanding foreign market of the vaccines produced in Bangladesh.
DREDGING MASTER PLAN
The premier said her government has made 10,000km of waterways navigable through dredging 178 dried up or almost dying rivers. Besides, they have collected 38 dredgers and 168 dredging auxiliary vessels, she said.
She added that the government has adopted a dredging master plan to smooth operation of water vessels. The PM also said 3,000 kilometers of river routes have come under navigability through dredging 47 rivers across the country.
UNDERGROUND METRO IN DHAKA
In reply to a query, she said a feasibility study is underway for construction of underground metro in the capital.
The overall progress of the survey project till October is 80 percent. It is expected that its implementation work
will start on time after finalising the alignment through feasibility study.
PADMA BRIDGE
In reply to a query from Jatiya Party MP Syed Abu Hossain Babla, the premier said the construction work of 9.63km long Padma Bridge, including viaduct, is underway at an estimated cost of Tk 30,193 crore with Bangladesh's own funds.
She said 88.75 percent physical work of the project has been completed as of October 2021. "It is expected that this dream bridge will be opened for traffic by June 2022."
OBITUARY MOTION
Yesterday's question-answer session was tabled and all other businesses of the House sitting were suspended to show respect to AL MP Akabbar Hossain from Tangal-7, who passed away on Tuesday.
The House unanimously adopted an obituary reference on late Akabbar Hossain following a brief discussion on his contribution to politics and for people of his constituency.
The PM said Akabbar Hossain was an honest, sincere and patriotic politician, and his demise is a huge loss for the party and also for the country.
She also said it is very unfortunate that a total of 20 MPs have died in the current parliament so far. "It is unfortunate that we lost 20 MPs in this parliament," she said, recalling the names of those who have died since 2019.