Bangladesh procured 29.64cr Covid-19 vaccines till April 4: PM
TCB sales brought essentials’ prices down, she says
The government has collected a total of over 29.64 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine from around the world as of April 4, 2022, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament today.
The premier said this in reply to a query from Awami League MP Morshed Alam from Noakhali-2 constituency.
In a scripted answer during the question-answer session with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair, PM informed the House that so far over 12.80 crore people have been given the first dose and 11.42 crore people have been given second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine so far.
Besides, over one crore and 81 thousand people have been given the booster dose.
About the cost of procuring Covid-19 vaccine, PM said it was possible to procure vaccines at a relatively low price by negotiating with the concerned countries.
However, due to a non-disclosure agreement it would not be appropriate to disclose the cost of the vaccines or related expenses.
LAW ON UNIVERSAL PENSION SCHEME FOR CITIZENS OVER 60
Replying to a question from Nur Uddin Chowdhury Nayan from Laxmipur-2 constituency, PM said the enactment of a law on universal pension and the formation of an authority under that law is in process.
PRICES OF ESSENTIALS
Prices of essentials significantly went down due to ongoing sale by Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the PM also said.
She said this while responding to a question from ruling party MP Kazim Uddin Ahmed from Mymensingh-11 constituency.
In the scripted answer she said that the prices of essentials have been raised significantly all around the world due to the economic recession created by the coronavirus pandemic.
She also mentioned that Russia-Ukraine war put fuel on the price spiral.
"As a result, prices of essentials increased in the world market," she said.
The pro-people government of Bangladesh has taken all-out measurers to keep the prices of essentials on a tolerable level, she added.
She also hoped that prices of essentials items will remain at tolerable level during holy Ramadan.
The PM said that on March 1 the price of one litre can of soybean oil was Tk 170, which came down to Tk 161.50 on April 5.
"During this time TCB sold per litre can at Tk 110," she said.
The Leader of the House mentioned that lentil price came down to Tk 112.50 on April 5 from Tk 120 while TCB is selling it at Tk 65 per kg.
Lose sugar was Tk 85 per kg on March 1 while it was Tk 78 on April 5. TCB is selling it at Tk 55 per kg, she added.
Regarding onion price, she said, on March 1 it was being sold at Tk 60 per kg while on April 5 its price was reduced to Tk 31.50 and the TCB is selling it at Tk 20 per kg.