Bangladesh is set to receive nearly 8 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan this afternoon (July 31) under the Covax scheme.

A flight of Cathay Pacific Airways carrying 781,320 doses of vaccines is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 3:15pm.

Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen will receive the vaccines at the airport where Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Naoki Ito will also be present there.

Earlier on Friday, Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed saw off the second consignment of Japan-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine at the Narita airport.

From the Embassy, Political Counsellor & Head of Chancery of Mission, Sheikh Farid and First Secretary, Ms Tushita Chakma were present with the Ambassador.

This is part of Japan's announced commitment of supplying over 3 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in phases to Bangladesh under WHO-COVAX mechanism.

On July 24, Japan sent a consignment of 245,200 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses to Bangladesh under the Covax scheme.

BDST: 1526 HRS, JUL 31, 2021
SMS