Additional Secretary made OSD soon after disclosing price of Chinese vaccine
Covid-19 in Bangladesh
An additional secretary of the Cabinet Division was made an officer-on-special duty (OSD) on 1 June soon after she disclosed the price of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.
Cabinet Division official Shahida Akhtar told reporters at a briefing that they would purchase the vaccine at $10 per dose.
While the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification of the change in Shahida's status citing 'public interest', government sources, however, said the decision was heavily influenced by the gaffe.
The disclosure has also reportedly soured the vaccine deal between the two countries.
The government had earlier announced that it would procure 1.5 crore doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China, a move which was approved by the Cabinet Committee on 27 May.
Right after the meeting, Shahida disclosed the price of the vaccine to reporters.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen had a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming and discussed the issue, among other things, explaining the whole scenario.
"Our Ambassador in Beijing is trying desperately with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He remains engaged," another official told UNB, mentioning that the price disclosure had been a major "inconvenience" for the Chinese company.
Revealing the contract price of the vaccine doses is against the "confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement" and the price for Bangladesh by Sinopharm is among the lowest, a diplomatic source said, adding, that the price also depends on who is procuring it and when.
A consignment of 20 million of China's Sinopharm vaccines is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka this month with the country reportedly purchasing each dose at $15, according to The Daily Mirror.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has written to relevant parties in China saying the price disclosure was a mistake, UNB reported.
Before the price disclosure, Bangladesh was assured by the Chinese government that they would keep 15 million vaccine doses for Bangladesh.
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