Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has recommended Bangladesh as a golden investment destination to potential Chinese investors.

Speaking at a webinar, he said that China witnessed an annual growth rate of 2.3% in the last year and Bangladesh achieved an even higher growth rate than that of China during this time. 

“The country’s spectacular development and the aspiration of becoming a developed economy by 2041 has attracted China,” he said, highly appreciating the good relationship between China and Bangladesh. 

Ambassador Jiming also analysed the trend of Chinese investment to Bangladesh and offered suggestion to promote bilateral investments at the ‘Showcase Bangladesh 2021: China-Bangladesh Investment Summit’ webinar jointly organised by Standard Chartered and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

The virtual event showcased the partnership potential between Bangladesh and China and highlighted the emerging strategic opportunities in a shifting global landscape.  

Over 400 delegates representing Chinese public and private sectors, policymakers, investors, bankers and economists, along with prominent leaders from the private and public sectors were in attendance.

Also read- Bangladesh a lucrative investment destination in between India, China: FM

Standard Chartered and BIDA recently announced a partnership to jointly promote Bangladesh as a preferred investment destination and work together to bring in targeted global investments to the country. This webinar was the first initiative to be undertaken through this partnership, according to a press release.

Standard Chartered Bangladesh’s CEO Naser Ezaz Bijoy noted that a close partnership between banks, investors and governments will be critical to fully leverage opportunities offered by the Bangladesh-China partnership.

“As Chinese firms seek new ports-of-call to expand integration to global value chains, Bangladesh-China partnerships hold a unique promise: deep ties and familiarity of centuries, but new and untapped opportunities,” he said.

Win-win situation for Bangladesh and China

BIDA Executive Chairman Mohammad Sirazul Islam delivered the keynote presentation that highlighted opportunities for Chinese investors in sectors such as RMG, leather, pharmaceuticals/API and medical equipment, software and IT, agro and food processing, agro tools and machinery, electronics, automobile and shipbuilding. 

“Bangladesh is a rapidly growing economy. The country has shown resilience during these unprecedented times where we grew by 5.24% at the time of the global pandemic. BIDA is also working to further improve the investment climate for investors,” said the BIDA chief. 

FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim said: “Such potential investment opportunities will allow for maximizing knowledge to ensure sustainable growth for both the economies involved.” He added, "Multimodal connectivity for enhanced communication and a consolidated investment friendly environment will prove to be a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and China.”

In response to a question about undergoing infrastructure development to facilitate foreign investment, Paban Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), said, “We are currently developing one of the biggest economic zones and have already developed 28 economic zones in Bangladesh. In addition to ensuring access to land and industrial infrastructure, there has been significant progress in mobilizing one-stop services for investors to streamline foreign investment in Bangladesh.”

Also Read-  Bangladesh offering big investment opportunities for Turkish businesses 

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to China Mahbub Uz Zaman said, “I have seen growing interest among Chinese entrepreneurs due to the 97% duty-free access and other incentives provided by Bangladesh. We believe China’s support and cooperation will help us in our journey of progress.”

Prime Minister’s Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman said the government is keen on facilitating trade and investment for both Bangladesh and China. 

“Bangladesh’s liberalized investment policies and concessions encourage foreign investment, and we see China as a strong investment partner. We hope investment cooperation between Bangladesh and China will reach new heights during Mujib Borsho – the birth centennial of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he said.

Planning Minister MA Mannan, speaking as the chief guest, said, “Platforms such as Showcase Bangladesh highlights the importance of connecting with potential investment opportunities for shared economic prosperity goals among all parties involved.”

Jerry Zhang, Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, they look forward to working hand in hand with everyone in the China-Bangladesh business corridor to witness the investment projects in Bangladesh take root and bear fruit.

Also present was Lin Weiqiang, President, Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh; Zhuang Lifeng, President of Overseas Chinese Association in Bangladesh; Zed Chen, Regional Finance Director, South Asia, Oppo; Mohammad Enamul Huque, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Banking, Standard Chartered Bangladesh’ and Jean Lu, Managing Director & Co-Head, Client Coverage, Corporate Commercial Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered China.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to launch coronavirus vaccination drive at Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital on Wednesday.

She will inaugurate the vaccination virtually, said Abdul Mannan, Secretary of Health Service Division of the Health Ministry on Saturday.

A nurse from the hospital will receive the jab.

Meanwhile, a study of Dhaka University’s Institute of Health Economics found that only 32 percent of Bangladeshis want to take the COVID-19 vaccine, partially due to doubts over the vaccine’s effectiveness and concerns over side-effects.

Also Read: Bangladesh receives 1st consignment of imported Covid vaccine doses

Overall 84 percent people showed interest to take the vaccine at some stage – after a few weeks, months and years - but did not want to take the vaccine right now as they have doubt about efficacy, side-effect and some even believe the vaccines do not work, the study found.

Some 3,560 randomly selected people above 18 years were respondents of the study beginning January 10. The respondents were from 16 upazilas of eight districts in eight divisions and from Dhaka city area.

Also Read: PM to inaugurate Covid-19 vaccination on Jan 27

The vaccination is set to begin when Bangladesh’s Covid-19 fatalities rose to 8,055 with 14 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours Tuesday morning.

“The mortality rate is now 1.51 percent,” the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.

Meanwhile, 515 new cases identified pushing up the national tally to 532,916.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18.

The caseload hit 500,000-mark on December 20 while the death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.

Also Read: DGDA OKs use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

On Tuesday, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) cleared Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use after testing samples of the 5 million doses brought from India on Monday.

“We’ve thoroughly tested samples from the consignment,” DGDA Director General Maj Gen Mahbubur Rahman told a press briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Also Read: 32pc of Bangladeshis want to take covid vaccine now: study

Bangladesh approved the emergency use of this vaccine on Jan 7. It inked a deal with the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd last month for procuring 30 million doses of the vaccine between January and June (five million doses each month).

The country received 2 million doses of vaccine as ‘gift’ from India last week.

A countrywide mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign will start from February 7, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fixed the time, he said after visiting the Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital.

Bangladesh is scheduled to launch the coronavirus vaccination drive on Wednesday.

Also Read: PM to launch Covid-19 vaccination Wednesday

Meanwhile, a study of Dhaka University’s Institute of Health Economics found that only 32 percent of Bangladeshis want to take the COVID-19 vaccine at the moment partially due to doubts over the vaccine’s effectiveness and concerns over side-effects.

Overall 84 percent people showed interest to take the vaccine at some stage – after a few weeks, months and years - but did not want to take the vaccine right now as they have doubt about efficacy, side-effect and some even believe the vaccines do not work, the study found.

Also Read: DGDA OKs use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Some 3,560 randomly selected people above 18 years were respondents of the study beginning January 10. The respondents were from 16 upazilas of eight districts in eight divisions and from Dhaka city area.

The vaccination is set to begin when Bangladesh’s Covid-19 fatalities rose to 8,055 with 14 more coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.

Also Read: PM to inaugurate Covid-19 vaccination on Jan 27

“The mortality rate is now 1.51 percent,” the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout. Meanwhile, 515 new cases pushed up the national tally to 532,916.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8 and the first death on March 18.

Also read:Bangladesh's vaccination plan unveiled

The caseload hit 500,000-mark on December 20 while the death toll exceeded 7,000 on December 12.

On Tuesday, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) cleared Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use after testing samples of the 5 million doses brought from India on Monday.

“We’ve thoroughly tested samples from the consignment,” DGDA Director General Maj Gen Mahbubur Rahman told a press briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Also read: Govt procured vaccine for public interest: Quader

Bangladesh approved the emergency use of this vaccine on Jan 7. It inked a deal with the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd last month for procuring 30 million doses of the vaccine between January and June (five million doses each month).

The country received 2 million doses of vaccine as ‘gift’ from India last week.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir turned 73 on Tuesday.

However, the BNP leader had a low-profile birthday party with only family members and party leaders and activists wishing him on the occasion.

Fakhrul woke up in the morning with his younger daughter Mirza Safaruh wising him 'Happy birthday’.

Talking to UNB, the BNP leader said there was no formal programme to celebrate the birthday, but BNP leaders, his relatives and friends from home and abroad wished him on the occasion.

“I usually don’t celebrate my birthday. I was at home in my hometown, Thakurgaon. I woke up in the morning with the phone call of my younger daughter and she wished me. My eldest daughter also phoned me from Australia saying ‘Happy birthday,” he said.

Also read: BNP pays tributes to Koko on his birthday

The BNP leader said he passed around fours at Saidpur Airport as his flight to Dhaka delayed for three hours and he reached his Uttara residence in the evening.

About his feelings on the birthday, Fakhrul said, “Wishing an elderly person like me on the birthday means remembering the death. I’ve lost another year from my life and my days on earth are numbered. I’m now closer to death as I turned 73.”

Also read: Zia's 85th birth anniversary observed

Fakhrul was born on January 26, 1948 in Thakurgaon. His father late Mirza Ruhul Amin was a Muslim League leader and a minister of the Pakistan government.

Fakhrul, who had involvement with left politics during his student life, completed his graduation and post-graduation from Dhaka University’s Economics department.

Later, he took up teaching as his profession through the BCS examination. Fakhrul quit teaching during the 80s and joined politics formally.

Also read: BNP marks Khaleda’s birthday unceremoniously

He was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 with BNP’s ticket in 2001 and made a state minister. He was also elected MP from Bogura-6 seat in the 11th parliamentary election. But he did not take oath yet as BNP rejected the election results. 

Fakhrul was made acting secretary general of BNP after the death of party’s then secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in 2011. He was given the full charge of the party’s secretary general position five years later in 2016.

Only 32 percent of Bangladeshis citizens want to take the COVID-19 vaccines now, showing doubts about the vaccine’s effectiveness and side-effects, according to a study of Dhaka University’s Institute of Health Economics. 

Overall 84 percent people showed interest to take the vaccine at some stage – after a few weeks, months and years - but did not want to take the vaccine right now as they doubt about efficacy, side-effect and some even believe the vaccines do not work, the study found. 

Some 3,560 randomly selected people above 18 years were respondents of the study beginning January 10. 

The respondents were from 16 upazilas of eight districts in eight divisions and from Dhaka city area. 

The study findings were disclosed in a virtual dissemination on Tuesday. 

Lead researcher Syed Abdul Hamid, a professor of the IHE, said that the study showed that 32 percent people showed interest in taking the vaccine immediately. 

The study found that 22 per cent would like to take the vaccine after a few weeks, 27 percent after a few months, 3 percent after 1 year and 16 percent do not want to take the vaccine at all. 

The reasons for delaying in taking the vaccine were: 54 percent suspect effectiveness of the vaccine, 34 percent fear side effects and 12 percent doubt whether the vaccine works at all. 

Financial ability makes a difference in choosing vaccines as the study found 84 per cent of those whose monthly incomes are Tk 20,000 want to take free vaccines but it is 52 per cent for them if they have to pay for the vaccine. 

People of income group of Tk 20,000-50,000 said 83 percent of them want to take the vaccine free but 80 percent of them would pay for the vaccine. 

Also read:Covid-19 vaccine not a 'silver bullet': WHO

High income group of monthly income above Tk 50,000 said they are more likely (91 percent) want to pay for the vaccines. 

Rural people are more interested to take the vaccine as the study found 87 percent of the respondents from rural area showed interest to take the vaccine while it was 80 percent in city area. 

Buddhists are less interested (66 per cent) to take the vaccine while Muslims (82 per cent), Hindu (97 per cent), Christian (100 per cent), and Atheists (100 per cent) are likely to take the vaccines. 

Women (87 per cent) are more interested to take the vaccine than male (82 per cent). 

The study recommended taking vaccines by top leaders and iconic persons would increase the acceptance of the vaccines. 

‘The government needs to raise awareness about the vaccine and the possible side-effects to beat the misconception and rumour,’ said Hamid.  

Co-investigator and IHE associate professor Shafiun Shimul and IHE chairman Nasrin Sultana also spoke. 

Bangladesh on Monday received the first consignment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine bought from the Serum Institute of India as 50 lakh doses of the vaccine arrived in Dhaka on a flight from India on the day.

Aslo read: DGDA OKs use of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Bangladesh plans to begin the national COVID-19 vaccination tomorrow, with inoculating a handful of healthcare providers for observation for a week, before rolling out the campaign on February 8 across the country for the selected priority groups.

Bangladesh, which has so far tallied over 8,000 COVID-19 deaths and 5.30 lakh cases, on November 5, 2020 signed the contract with the Serum Institute of India and its local vendor Beximco on the procurement of the three crore doses of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum.

Bangladesh on Thursday received 20 lakh doses of the vaccine as gift from India.

Being a low-income country, Bangladesh with a population of over 160 million people will also receive 6.8 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the global vaccine alliance GAVI under a World Health Organisation pool of vaccines named COVAX formed to ensure the access of poor countries to vaccines.

The COVAX vaccines are due in the country by June 2021.

With public suspicion of COVID-19 vaccine side effects, tens of thousands of people skipped the inoculation in India where the mass vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine began on January 16, according to media reports.

In Bangladesh, social media platforms are replete with people expressing fear of adverse effects of the vaccine, with many stating that they will not take the shots.

Also read: Covid-19 vaccines: Bangladesh has 'limited choices'

Noted virologist Nazrul Islam said that top government leaders taking the vaccine on camera would encourage people to receive the jabs as they were confused as to whether they should take or avoid the vaccine over after-effects.

‘It’ll be seen as lack of involvement of government leaders in the vaccination programme if they do not publicly take the vaccine,’ he said.

‘People will increasingly doubt the vaccine if the government only demonstrates its duty, not its involvement in the process,’ he added.