Bangladesh approves import of 30m Oxford-AstraZeneca doses from Serum

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved a proposal of the Health Service Division to import 30 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.

Although the overall import cost will be Tk 12.71 billion, the government did not elaborate how much each it would cost to bring each dose.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, who presided over the meeting, suggested journalists to contact the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the information.

“The approval was given under a direct procurement method for the sake of emergency needs of the state,” he said.

When he was asked about the apprehension among people on the vaccine use, Minister Kamal said he would gladly receive the jab first.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave an in principal approval for direct purchase of Covid-19 vaccine waiving it from regular purchase rules.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase also approved seven more proposals from different ministries.

As per three separate proposals placed by the Industries Ministry, state-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will procure some 85,000 metric tonnes of urea fertiliser.

Of these, 60,000MT bagged granular urea will be procured from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) in two lots. Each 30,000MT lot will cost Tk 662.90 million while each MT will cost $260.125.

The remaining 25,000MT bulk prilled urea will be imported from Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) at a cost of Tk 560 million.

Also approved was a proposal of the Roads and Highways Department to award a Tk 2.445 billion contract to Joint Venture of National Development Engineering Ltd, MM Builders & Engineers Ltd, and Rana Builders Pvt Ltd to construct three bridges on Dhaka-Arica Highway at Aminbazar, Salehpur and Nayarhat areas.

Two separate proposals of the Ministry of Shipping received also got the nod.

Of these, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will procure eight coastal sea trucks from Ananda Shipyard and Three Angles Marine Limited at a cost of Tk 1.32 billion while three modern inland passenger vessels will be procured by the same authority from Three Angle Marines Limited at a cost of Tk 1.42 billion.

The Cabinet committee approved a proposal of the Public Works Department to award a contract to Padma Associates & Engineers Ltd, to build a 20-story residential building at Rajarbagh Police Lines. The contract value is Tk 802 million.