Some 2,45,200 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are scheduled to arrive here on Saturday from Japan.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will receive the vaccine doses that will come under COVAX facility.

A Cathay Pacific Airways flight will carry the vaccine doses that will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the afternoon on the day.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Friday said Japan will provide in total 3 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh. 

"This is the manifestation of friendship and partnership," he said. 

During his recent telephone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Dr Momen raised the vaccine issue and requested him to help Bangladesh with the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine doses.

Also read: Japan to send 2.9 mn doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for Bangladesh: Envoy

He specifically mentioned about the urgency of the AstraZeneca vaccine doses as a good number of people in Bangladesh did not get the second dose of AstraZeneca due to supply gap.

Japan says it will stand by Bangladesh in the fight against Covid-19.

Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made an announcement that 15 countries in the region will be provided with 11 million doses in total under the COVAX facility.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed was present at the Narita Airport on Friday during the dispatch of the first consignment of 2,45,200 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan for Bangladesh.

The All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight carrying the vaccines left airport at 2220 hrs (Japan time).

From the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, Deputy Chief of Mission Shah Asif Rahman and First Secretary Tushita Chakma were also present along with the Ambassador.