DHAKA, Sept 29, 2020 (BSS) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and
the government of Bangladesh today signed agreement for $3 million in
grant for procuring urgent medical supplies including vaccine for the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The government of Japan is financing the grant assistance sourced
from the ADB-administered Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, said an
ADB press release.
Fatima Yasmin, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD),
and Manmohan Parkash, Country Director of ADB, virtually signed the
grant agreement on behalf of Bangladesh and ADB, respectively.
“We are very pleased to provide this grant assistance that can be
used to procure COVID-19 vaccine, which is under development, and the
government is trying to source it at the earliest for the people of
Bangladesh,” said Country Director Manmohan Parkash.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic remains under control, providing
vaccine to the people is an urgent priority to tame the disease for
resuming economic activities in full swing.” he added.
Parkash also said, “We are closely working with the government to
minimize the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and
help accelerate the post-pandemic socio-economic recovery of the
country,” Parkash added.
The new assistance builds on ADB’s previous support of around $603
million in loans and grants to contain and mitigate the COVID-19
pandemic in Bangladesh.
ADB on May 7 approved $500 million loan to bolster the efforts of
the government of Bangladesh to manage the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the country’s economy and the public health.
On April 30, ADB approved a $100 million concessional emergency loan
to support Bangladesh’s efforts to address the immediate public health
requirements of combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADB also released a $350,000 emergency grant for the procurement of
medical supplies and equipment, and $1.3 million from an existing
project to provide one-time cash support to 22,619 trainees to enable
them to continue their ongoing skills training program.
In addition, $231,178 in grant was provided to augment COVID-19
related facilities in 134 urban primary healthcare centers, also
called Nogor Swastho Kendro, across the country.
Since February, ADB’s emergency assistance grants to its developing
members have helped ensure the supply of essential medicines and
personal protective equipment.
In April, ADB announced a $20 billion comprehensive response package
to help its developing member countries address the immediate and
long-term macroeconomic and health impacts of COVID-19 in the region.
In its 47-year-long partnership with Bangladesh, ADB has mobilized
over $36.6 billion in loans and grants, including cofinancing, to help
bring better infrastructure, public services, and social development
outcomes to the people of Bangladesh.
ADB’s current sovereign portfolio in Bangladesh has 49 projects with
around $11 billion.