Bangladesh strengthens response against COVID-19

The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide Bangladesh with $940 million in loan for coronavirus vaccine doses and healthcare service enhancement. For Bangladesh, this is the largest loan support is receiving for the coronavirus vaccine. In addition, the World Bank has approved $500 million in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to help Bangladesh vaccinate 54 million people against COVID-19. The additional financing to the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project will help Bangladesh procure safe and effective vaccines, expand vaccine storage facilities, and distribute vaccines to about 31 per cent of its population, in support of the government’s prioritized plan of covering 40 per cent of the population in the first phase of vaccination. The country is also planning to issue vaccine passports that will allow people to travel abroad and attend important events.