DHAKA, April 25, 2022 (BSS) - Health Minister Zahid Maleque today termed the report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) over tackling of coronavirus by health sector as baseless, motivated and misleading.

"TIB report over tackling of coronavirus does not reflect real picture as they (TIB) conducted their survey among only 1,800.... TIB has prepared the report based on telephone conversation, which is unacceptable and misleading," he told at a press briefing at his ministry here, an official release said.

Referring to different key statistics on providing healthcare facilities to deal COVID-19 pandemic, Maleque said, "Bangladesh has brought 75 percent people under COVID-19 vaccination coverage ... meaning 13 crore people received both doses of vaccine." Nearly 12 million people received booster doses in the country, he added.

The information in the TIB report on vaccination coverage the people aged 60 years and above is false as they (TIB) said only 40 lakh people aged 60 years and above received coronavirus vaccines.

 "We have attached priority to inoculation of old-aged people. Twelve million people aged 60 years and above received coronavirus vaccine in the country," the minister added.

In Bangladesh, coronavirus killed less than 30,000 people but the TIB report said the virus killed 7.8 percent people, which is totally false information.

Maleque said the government has provided adequate healthcare facilities for protecting the people from the deadly virus. TIB prepared the report over tackling of coronavirus incorporating false and baseless information, he added.