RANGPUR Correspondent:  Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday said Bangladesh will get coronavirus vaccine from India in time.

“There is no reason to be worried about the coronavirus vaccine. As per the agreement, the vaccine will come here from India in time,” he told reporters on Rangpur Circuit House premises here.

Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, said Serum Institute of India has already issued a statement on the confusion created over the COVID-19 vaccine.

At the same time, he said, the Indian Health Secretary confirmed that Bangladesh would get the vaccine in time as per the agreement.

The information minister said the Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh also confirmed that Bangladesh would receive COVID-19 vaccine in time.

Citing a Bloomberg report, he said Bangladesh’s position in addressing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is the best in the subcontinent under leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasan said those, who are spreading rumours over COVID-19 vaccine, had spread various rumours against Bangladesh in the past.

After coronavirus was reported in Bangladesh, a quarter predicted that there would be dead bodies on streets and there would be a famine and so on, he said, adding: “But by the grace of Allah, the people of Bangladesh are well.”

Responding to a question about freedom of the press, the information minister said media enjoy optimum freedom in Bangladesh, while media do not get such freedom in many developed countries.

Later, Hasan visited the Rangpur sub-station of Bangladesh Television and the Rangpur Centre of Bangladesh Betar. During his visit, he exchanged views with the officials concerned on the functions and future plans of the two centres.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Asib Ahsan, Additional Superintendent of Police Madhusudan Dutta, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Shahidullah Kawsar, Rangpur district AL president Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, its general secretary Rezaul Karim Raju, joint general secretary Motahar Hossain Mandal Maula, Rangpur City AL president Safiur Rahman Safi and its general secretary Babu Tushar Kanti Mandal, among others, were present on the occasion.