Staff Correspondent: Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday congratulated the COVID-19 vaccine ‘Bangavax’ inventors’ team leaders, Kakan Nag and Naznin Sultana, saying that they are the pride of Bangladesh.

“The special feature of ‘Bangavax’ is that it is a single dose vaccine while many vaccines in the world are in multiple doses. A single dose of this vaccine is enough,” he said, addressing a meeting to greet the two scientists at the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat in the capital.

The minister congratulated Kakan and Naznin of Globe Biotech Limited, a clinical research organization, who are the first inventors of coronavirus vaccine in the country.

Senior Secretary of Local Government Division Helal Uddin Ahmed, Information Secretary Khaja Mia and former Principal Secretary and Chattogram University Alumni Association President Abdul Karim were present in the meeting.

Hasan said the vaccine is now waiting for the approval for clinical trail from Bangladesh Medical Research Council ethics committee. “I firmly believe that we can move forward to administer the vaccine to people soon after completion of all tests and approval. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also urged our scientists to do research on this issue. And the two scientists and their team have been able to invent the vaccine within a short time on their own initiatives,” he added.

The information minister said there are only a few countries which have been able to invent the vaccine against COVID-19. And Bangladesh is the second country which invented this vaccine in the subcontinent, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

“For this, I would like to congratulate cordially scientists Kakan Nag and Naznin Sultana. And I feel proud as me and the duo are the students of Chemistry Department of Chattogram University. Actually, they are the pride of the country,” he said.

He said there were many rumours over the vaccine issue. But the vaccine has reached on time and it reached district and upazila levels, he added.

The minister said people are waiting with huge enthusiasm to take the vaccine after all rumours proved to be false and the vaccination will be inaugurated on February 7. “Now, we are eagerly waiting when the vaccine ‘Bangavax’ will come and then we can help other countries by providing the vaccine,” Hasan said.

He said some of the country’s political leaders, intellectuals and some international media apprehended that many people would die from starvation during the pandemic. But, all their apprehensions have been proved wrong, he added.

The information minister said the government has gave food assistance to about seven crore people while the Awami League distributed 1.25 crore packets of food.

Scientists Kakan and Naznin, in their speeches, termed the Globe Biotech Limited as an research organization of international standard. They firmly expressed their hope that the vaccine will be open for all within the ‘Mujib Year’.

Chattogram University Professor Dr Manir Uddin, Professor Dr Mohammad Helal Uddin, CU Alumni Association general secretary Mahabubul Alam, organising secretary Mansur Ahmed, treasurer Fakhrul Ahsan, executive members Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury, CU X Students Club president Amin Helali, Universal Medical College Chairperson Prity Chakkrabarty, scientist’s assistance Shamim Ahmed, Abdullah Al Maksud, Ripan Nag and Kakan and Naznin’s daughter Shanti Nag, among others, joined in the meeting.