No vaccine crisis in country: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government has enough Covid-19 vaccine in hand now to start a nationwide mass inoculation from next Saturday.
At a briefing at his residence, the AL leader said there is no vaccine crisis in the country and urged all not to pay heed to any propaganda.
"There is no vaccine crisis at present, but a vested quarter is trying to create panic among people saying there is one. They are also trying to break people's morale amid the pandemic," he said.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said the government's plan is to continue vaccination with the doses available as more jabs will come.
"There's no room for doubt about this," he said, adding that vaccines will continue to arrive and the vaccination programme will continue.
He said the nationwide immunisation programme is starting from August 7 and the government has already made necessary preparations to make the campaign successful through proper coordination.
He urged officials concerned to follow the vaccination protocol and conduct the drive in rural areas with patience.
Quader called upon the administration to make inoculation drive a success with co-operation of AL leaders at district, upazila, municipality, union and ward levels.
He also defended the reopening of garment factories even amid the lockdown saying it was done in the interest of the country's economy.
In this regard, he lambasted BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his criticism of the government move.
"Fakhrul speaks of workers' interests while at the same time opposes reopening of the factories… this is self-contradictory," said Quader.
He also said the government is taking decisions in consultation with experts, considering the welfare of the country.
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