September 1, 2021
As prepared.
As-salamu alaikum (AH-sa-la-mu a-LAY-koom), nomoshkar (NO-mowsh-kar) and good evening.
It is a pleasure to once again welcome a life-saving donation of one million COVID-19 vaccines—a gift from the United States and the American people to the people of Bangladesh.
This shipment of Pfizer vaccines is given freely and is designed to bolster the ongoing effort to protect Bangladeshis from the coronavirus.
We are pleased to donate another one million vaccines as a gift from the American people to the people of Bangladesh, and we are grateful to COVAX for facilitating the delivery.
With this latest delivery, the United States has now gifted a total of 6.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to date. It will not be the last such gift. We expect further vaccine arrivals soon.
This donation is part of fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to purchase and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to countries around the world. Bangladesh is one of the first countries to benefit from this initiative.
Donating vaccines is also just one part of our broader partnership with Bangladesh, where the United States is the largest donor of COVID-19 assistance in this country, contributing not only 6.5 million doses of vaccines – so far – but also over $96 million to battle the pandemic.
This partnership between our countries has helped improve infection prevention and control; trained medical professionals; provided emergency medical supplies, including ventilators and PPE; enhanced laboratory and testing capacity, improved the quality of care and treatment for COVID-19 patients, and helped people weather the economic impacts of the pandemic.
These Pfizer vaccines arrive at a crucial time to bolster the ongoing roll-out of the national vaccination campaign. The United States is proud to partner with the Government of Bangladesh in the effort to get as many vaccinations into the arms of as many people as possible.
This is not an easy task. Rolling out a vaccination campaign of such magnitude is an unprecedented challenge – not only for Bangladesh, but for each and every country around the world.
With this in mind, we are grateful for the dedication and courage among Bangladeshi healthcare providers, clinic managers, and volunteers who have been tasked with executing a successful vaccination campaign.
Please know that we stand with you—and we continue to stand together with the people of Bangladesh no matter how challenging this pandemic may be.
The United States and Bangladesh have been close partners for the past five decades, working together to help past and present generations achieve healthier and more prosperous lives for themselves and their families.
Today, our partnership is stronger than ever as we face the challenge of overcoming COVID-19 together—Bangladeshis, Americans, and all people around the world.
Dhonnobad.
