Bangladesh is doing everything in its power to import the COVID-19 vaccine and the frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic will be prioritised for the doses, Sheikh Hasina has said.
"The infection rate and death toll (from COVID-19) in Bangladesh are still quite low. We’re trying our best to keep the pandemic under control,” the prime minister said in a televised speech to the nation on the second anniversary of the incumbent Awami League government on Thursday.
“It gives hope that several countries have begun vaccination campaigns against COVID-19. We're also trying everything to bring the vaccines to Bangladesh swiftly,” she told the citizens.
Hasina thanked the frontline workers, including the doctors, health workers, law enforcers, members of the armed forces and field-level workers of the administration, for battling the pandemic courageously, reports bdnews24.com.
The Awami League chief said the party and its associated organisations, including Chhatra League, along with the people from all spheres of life have come forward to help the destitute people who were affected by the pandemic crisis.
“I thank them all. I pray for those lost in the pandemic."
The premier also thanked the people for supporting the government in tackling the disaster caused by the pandemic that has upended the economy of Bangladesh and other countries across the globe.
She highlighted her government’s efforts to keep the economy running, especially by providing stimulus packages worth Tk 1.21 trillion, which is equivalent to 4.3 per cent of the GDP.
“We’re still continuing the process to provide incentives, especially for the people from marginal groups. We’ve expanded the scopes of the social safety net.”
The national GDP growth was 5.24 per cent in the last fiscal year and the expected growth in the current fiscal year is 7.4 per cent, the prime minister said.
Several international organisations also forecast Bangladesh to top the list of South Asian countries with robust GDP growth while the IMF placed the country in the third position among the top growing economies of 2020, she said.
