ADB lauds PM's leadership in managing Covid-19 pandemic

The Asian Asian Development Bank (ADB) today highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination program successfully.

Paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Manmohan Parkash also said that they will provide Bangladesh with USD 940 million as assistance to purchase Covid-19 vaccines.

PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas talked to BSS after the meeting.

"To help expedite the economic recovery from the pandemic, ADB is discussing with the government a proposal for $940 million in assistance from ADB's APVAX Facility for Bangladesh's vaccine program," Emrul quoted the ADB country director as saying.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister informed Manmohan Parkash that her government has been attaching priority to constructing Dhaka-Barishal-Patuakhali-Payra rail lines.

Parkash appreciated the PM's timely decision in opening all the sectors of economy in phases for which normalcy has been restored in Bangladesh's economy and in the GDP growth, Emrul said.

The ADB country director lauded the government measures relating to vaccinate the people, saying that Bangladesh is one of the three countries in Asia which are successfully conducing the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

Parkash handed over to the Prime Minister an ADB book "Asia's Journey to Prosperity: Policy, Market, and Technology Over 50 Years", and three volumes of "Southwest Bangladesh Economic Corridor Comprehensive Development Plan".

PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present at the meeting.