29.5cr doses of Covid-19 vaccines collected: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the parliament that her government collected 29,64,84,120 doses of the Covid-19 vaccines as of April 4 from different parts of the globe.

“Over 12,80,70,948 people have so far been given the first doses of the Covid-19 vaccines while 11,42,67,956 others have received the second doses and 1,00, 81,193 got the booster doses,” she said.

The premier came up with the assertion while replying to a tabled question from a ruling party lawmaker of Noakhali-2 constituency Morshed Alam during the question-answer session in the parliament slated for the prime minister.

 Regarding cost for purchasing the Covid-19 vaccines, Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said that it had been possible to procure vaccines at a relatively cheaper price due to negotiations with the concerned countries through bilateral relations.

“It will not be correct to disclose the cost of purchasing the vaccines or related expenses, since there are non-disclosure agreements for buying the Covid-19 vaccines,” she added.

 In responding to another question of treasury bench lawmaker from the reserved bench from women, Mamtaj Begum, the premier said some 76,70,399 Bangladeshi workers went abroad from 2009-2022.

She also said: “Some 9,36,955 persons have so far got employment abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Replying to another query from a lawmaker of Laxmipur-2 constituency Nur Uddin Chowdhury Nayan, the premier said an initiative has been taken to formulate a universal pension scheme to ensure financial security of the country's elderly people.

She added: “The enactment of a law on the universal pension and formation of an authority to this end is now under process.”

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the 16th session of the 11th parliament.