BSS, Dhaka
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said it is good that BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia is taking vaccine though her party earlier criticised about the inoculation.
“Today we saw that Begum Khaleda Zia is also taking the vaccine. But, leaders of her party (BNP) spread much confusion over the inoculation though those leaders also got vaccinated later,” he said.
The minister made the comments while addressing a function of distribution of Prime Minister’s Eid gifts and health protection materials among different organizations at Awami League president’s political office in city’s Dhanmondi.
AL Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee organised the function with committee Chairman and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications Ministry Chairman AKM Rahamatullha in the chair.
AL Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, among others, addressed the function while AL Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi conducted it.
Hasan said, “I would like to give thanks to her (Begum Zia) for taking the vaccine and praying that she will be healthy and free from the COVID 19 pandemic. But the countrymen think that you (BNP leaders) should seek apology from the people for spreading confusion over the vaccine.”
He said the BNP leaders spread confusion by saying that the vaccine of AstraZeneca would not do any work and even if it is taken there is a possibility of health risk. The Europeans are also taking the vaccine of AstraZeneca, he added.
But later, some BNP leaders took the vaccine openly and some in secretly, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The minister said some leaders of BNP took the first dose and some others took the second dose. And the government has the lists, he added.
He said the Awami League government is working relentlessly to provide health protection to all people of the country. The Premier has declared that the vaccine will be given to over 80 percent people, he added.
He said the vaccine is for all. All BNP leaders and activists would get the vaccine, he added.
The minister urged the BNP leaders not to spread confusion.
Hasan also urged them (BNP) to take lesson from Awami League as how to stay beside the common people and distribute health protection materials and food items to distressed people.
He called upon the countrymen to maintain the health rules during the Eid journey. “My and my family protection is on my own hand,” he added.
Later, Hasan handed over the Eid gifts and health protection materials to Islamic Foundation, Anjuman Mufidul Islam, Dhaka Reporters Unity and other organizations.