BD capable of producing Covid vaccines for export

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday told the parliament that Bangladesh has the capability of producing Covid-19 vaccine and supply those to other countries. Hasina, also leader of the House, said this while discussing a resolution to thank Unesco for introducing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for Creative Economy.

Awami League MP and former chief whip of parliament, Abdus Shahid, placed the resolution under section 147 of the rules of procedure of parliament.

The premier said during her recent trip to UK and France, she told world leaders that Bangladesh wants to produce Covid-19 vaccine.

"I told them, remove all hurdles in the way of producing coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh, let's open the scope, this is a right of the people of the whole world and this (vaccines) should be declared as public good," she said.

She mentioned that if Bangladesh gets the chance, it would produce vaccine. It has the capability and the government has already allotted land for the purpose, the prime minister said.

"We can also supply the vaccine to the world," she said.

The premier said that Bangladesh has been recognised by the world for its success in tackling coronavirus.

Hasina thanked people of the country for supporting her party and casting votes for it in the elections repeatedly.

Talking about the mammoth efforts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after independence, she said her government wanted to advance the country following the footsteps and ideology of Bangabandhu.

Talking about youths, she said that the government has taken numerous steps for the development of the country.

In this connection, she mentioned the start-up programme of the government from which young entrepreneurs can avail funds to start their businesses.

She thanked her son Sajeeb Wazed, nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and some other young MPs for initiating Young Bangla, which supports start-up programmes.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has handed over the "UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy" to MoTIV, a Uganda-based integrated creative studio on November 11.

"Uganda got the award this time, Inshallah entrepreneurs from Bangladesh will get this in the future," she said.

"We want young people of Bangladesh to come up and work like Uganda's MoTIV Creations Limited. I believe one of the Bangladeshi organisations will get the prize one day," she added.

Education Minister Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Deputy Leader of the Opposition GM Quader, AL MPs -- Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Nurul Islam Nahid, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party MPs -- Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Fakhrul Imam, BNP MP Harunur Rashid, among others, took part in the special discussion.

The parliament later unanimously adopted the motion by voice vote with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.