As-Prepared Remarks Chargé JoAnne Wagner
As-salamu alaikum.
Americar Jonogoner pokkho theke 3 million moderna vaccine, Bangladesher jonogoner jonno upohar hisebe grohon kale, apnader uposthitike Ami Shadhubaad Janai.
Just two weeks ago, we were here to welcome 2.5 million Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses to Bangladesh, a gift from the American people to our partners in Bangladesh.
I am pleased to be here once again, to deliver a gift of three million more doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine – for a total of 5.5 million doses in July alone. This is part of President Biden’s commitment to donate at least 80 million doses from America’s own supply to countries around the world.
This donation comes at a crucial time in Bangladesh’s response to the pandemic, and we are pleased to be partners as Bangladesh resumes its national vaccination campaign.
The United States understands the urgency of getting as many safe and effective vaccines to Bangladesh as quickly as possible.
With an influx of three million vaccinations today, we are honored to help in getting life-saving injections into the arms of Bangladeshis around the country.
We are proud to partner with Bangladesh in this fight. In addition to this vaccine donation, the United States is the largest donor of assistance to Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response, contributing over $84 million to help Bangladesh combat the pandemic.
And more help is on the way. The U.S. will also allocate 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for distribution by COVAX to countries around the world, including Bangladesh.
This gift, donated without charge, is meant to save lives, and because it is the right thing to do.
All of us here know that the fight against COVID-19 is not easy, but the United States will continue to stand alongside our partners in Bangladesh to fight together to protect health and save lives.
The United States and Bangladesh have been close partners for the past five decades, working together to help Bangladeshis achieve healthier and better lives.
With the Eid ul Azha holiday nearly upon us, this is a truly appropriate time for us to present this gift. One of the guiding principles celebrated during this holy time seems particularly apt to me. And that is the notion that a person should not fill their own stomach while their neighbor goes hungry. It is in this spirit, and the spirit of friendship, the spirit of humanity, that we deliver the comfort of vaccines to Bangladesh, in the hope that our collective efforts will help bring the blessings of peace and health to families across the country.
Thank you so much to our partners from the Government of Bangladesh, and the front-line workers for their commitment and leadership. We look forward to continuing our work together to protect the lives of people across this beautiful country.
Dhonnobad.
