The Chinese vaccine company Sinovac Biotech has sought co-financing from Bangladesh for a phase-3 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The company was given permission to carry out the phase-3 human trial about a month back by the government.

Responding to an unconfirmed report about the Chinese company asking for co-financing for a vaccine trial, the Health Division Secretary of the government of Bangladesh Abdul Mannan confirmed to the official news agency BSS yesterday that Sinovac Biotech Ltd has sent a letter to the government seeking co-financing for COVID 19 vaccine trial.

He said that the company had not asked for co-financing by the Bangladesh government when it obtained the approval to carry out the trial.

The Chinese company had originally put up the proposal to Bangladesh through the Dhaka based International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR’B). The government granted final clearance for the clinical trial on August 27.

An official of the ICDDR’B told BSS that it is now entirely up to the government to decide if they will agree to the co-financing proposal as there was no mention of it in the original proposal of the Chinese company.

Under the agreement before the co-financing was sought, Bangladesh would have got one lakh vaccines for free. It would also have got priority to purchase adequate quantum of vaccines from the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Govt has issued directives restricting certain activities in view of the security, law and order and COVID-19 pandemic during the upcoming Durga Puja in the country. The directives came after the meeting Chaired by Home Minister Asaduzzamn Khan on Sunday in Dhaka.

The meeting requested the leaders of the nationwide Sarbajanin Puja Committee to limit the number of Puja mandaps as much as possible. The government has also decided that no procession will be allowed during the immersion of the idol at the end of the Durga Puja, said the press release issued by the Home Ministry.

The meeting decided that the Puja Celebration Committee will take steps to reduce the number of public gatherings at the Puja Mandap and to broadcast the Anjali program live. The organisers have been asked to maintain health guidelines such as social distancing, wearing of masks and using the hand sanitiser for people visiting the mandaps.

Police forces will be on mobile duty to deal with law and order situations. The guidelines also require that various ceremonies should be held maintaining religious harmony. The Puja Udjapan Committee will be coordinating with the local administration and law enforcement agencies for the management of the mandaps.