Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the country had procured 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses already, even as other nations have also expressed interest in having them.

She was speaking after virtually laying the foundation stone of Kumudini International Institute of Medical Sciences and Cancer Research (KIIMS CaRe) at Narayanganj, from her official residence GonoBhaban.

"We made advance payment when the research was going on and the World Health Organisation did not give approval, but I have made the advance payment so that we could get it early to save the country from the COVID-19 pandemic," Hasina said.

Hasina said: "Now there's no problem, everyone is coming to get the vaccine at vaccination centres with huge interest and enthusiasm."

"The Indian government has sent 20 lakh (2 million) doses as a gift."

She also emphasised: "We have to keep wearing masks, wash our hands, and stay clean. We have been giving out the jabs and will keep doing so, but everyone has to follow the health safety rules at the same time.

"By doing so, we can weed out the pandemic from the country."

To meet the COVID-19 pandemic challenge, her government-appointed 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses and technicians, she said: "We're taking further steps to appoint more (doctors and nurses, technicians) so that people of the country can avail medical facilities."

"We need research urgently," she said asking all concerned to focus on Bangladesh's climate and environment while doing research, particularly on cancer.

"Our aim is to establish one medical university in each division of the country to pave the way for research work," she added.

(IANS)