"Oxford sells its vaccine (dose) for two dollars and 70 cents while Beximco will sell it for $13. That means they’ll make around $11 profit from each (dose of) vaccine. There can be no bigger robbery than this,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, Manna said, “The government will do business with Beximco through the vaccine import. I would like to say from here that such business by the government through private companies must be stopped.”

He warned that people will not allow the government to do business through tricks in the name of vaccine procurement.

Shaheed Asad Foundation arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 52nd martyrdom anniversary of student leader Asaduzzaman Asad of 1969 mass uprising.

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On January 20, 1969, Asad was shot down by the Pakistani police in a protest rally near Dhaka Medical College Hospital against the atrocities on the people of East Pakistan.

Manna said there is no guarantee that the poor people of the country will get vaccine. "As per the list prepared so far, only those who are in power will be vaccinated first.”

 He alleged that people’s lives have no value to the current government which came to power resorting to vote ‘robbery’.

Manna also claimed that there is no democracy in the country while people have lost their right to vote. Dramas are being staged now in the name of voting."

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In the current context of the country, he said Shaheed Asad is like a beacon of light for the nation.

Manna called upon the country’s people to follow the deal of Asad and take place a mass upsurge to ‘restore’ their voting rights and democracy.