Bangladesh wants to buy 5 million Sputnik V shots from Russia: foreign minister

Bangladesh wants to buy at least five million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Russia as soon as possible, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said today.

He spoke about it to the outgoing Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander I Ignatov, when the latter made a farewell call on Momen at the foreign ministry today.

In a statement, Momen said, "Health ministry is working towards this end."

He said Bangladesh is in the process of signing agreements of both buying Sputnik V from Russia and of co-production of the vaccine in Bangladesh.

He sought the Russian ambassador's cooperation so that Bangladesh gets supplies of Sputnik V at the quickest possible time.

Momen also appreciated the speed of work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant where Russian experts and workers are engaged.

He said Russia, which helped Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971, is a tested friend of Bangladesh and that the people will remember the contribution forever.