Buy 20m doses of Sputnik V

Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GSK) has asked the government to buy 20 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine and said that the Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital has been appointed the vaccine manufacturer's sole distributor in Bangladesh.

Each dose will cost USD 8, according to a proposal submitted to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen during a meeting on June 6. Foreign Ministry Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Covid coordinator of the ministry were also present at the meeting, said GSK sources.

On June 9, GSK wrote to the minister informing him about getting the distributorship of Sputnik V. Getting no response, it sent another letter to the Prime Minister's Office on June 15. It also sent a letter to Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus on June 24, the sources said.

Contacted, GSK founder and trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury said, "I don't have anything to tell you about this. We have informed the government in details in our letters. However, we did not get any response," he said.

Asked, he said, "We have given our proposal on purchasing the vaccine during the meeting with the foreign minister, the foreign secretary, and the director general of DGHS. That meeting was satisfactory. They had expressed interest in the proposal."

Contacted, DGHS DG Prof Khurshid Alam said, "I don't know about it. I don't have any information in this regard."

Zafrullah said Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) appointed LLC MEBTEX as the distributor of Sputnik V vaccine and the latter appointed Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital the sole distributor in Bangladesh.

"We have attached relevant documents along with our letters. We did not communicate with the Russian company for the partnership. They were the ones who approached us," said Zafrullah.

Asked why the Russian firm contacted GSK instead of the government, he said, "When RDIF wants to have a partnership with a country, they communicate with the country's government through a non-government agent. This is why they contacted GSK. But I do not know why they particularly contacted me."

He said RDIF had also contacted him for research collaboration a year ago. "At that time, I did not see any interest from the relevant ministries and departments of the government. So, I suggested they contact the government directly. Recently, they have communicated with us again after the Sputnik V vaccine was approved in Bangladesh."

The GSK founder said on the basis of his long-time connection with the Russian Communist Party, RDIF perhaps researched GSK and thought that GSK would be a reliable partner.

"Perhaps, they also know about our work. That is why they reached out to me. I've notified the government about the communication as Bangladesh desperately needs vaccines at this moment."

Asked how long it will take to get the vaccines if a contract is signed, he said they would be able to deliver 10 million doses of vaccine within two to three weeks.

Another 10 million doses will be delivered within a month. Every day half a million doses of vaccine will reach Bangladesh in chartered flights, he added.

Zafrullah said although each dose would cost $8, it is possible to negotiate the price in the future. "If our government takes a quick decision, Russia will also be interested in assisting Bangladesh in vaccine production. However, if the government takes time, it will be difficult to get the vaccine at this rate due to increasing demands of vaccines all over the world.

"Also, it will not be possible to ensure quick delivery of vaccines," he stated further.

Queried about GSK's profit from being the distributor, he said, "I do not have any personal gains here. Gonoshasthaya Kendra will have some monetary profits. And if Gonoshasthaya Kendra can make some profit it will also be beneficial for the poor people of our country as it works for the wellbeing of the poor.

"But the country and its people will be the most benefited."

He further said, "Compared to the Chinese vaccines, each shot of the Russian vaccine will save $2. If the government doesn't want to save the public money, we have nothing to say. We need tens of millions of vaccines within a short time, but we are purchasing much less than what is required. We cannot continue mass vaccination this way."

When his attention was drawn to the joint production of vaccines in Bangladesh, Zafrullah said, "Of course we can jointly produce vaccines in Bangladesh. If I am given the responsibility, I shall be able to get authorisation for joint production of Russian vaccines in Bangladesh."

But the decision must come from the government side, he said, adding, "We have written to the government time and again, but it has not even cared to reply."