While countries around the world are in hot pursuit of a Covid-19 vaccine, with several currently in the final phase of clinical trials, Bangladesh remains far behind in the race as no desperate effort is visible from the government, experts observe.

They said the government has made little progress so far in obtaining the much-sought-after vaccine, as it only submitted an expression of interest as a member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI).

The decision on whether the vaccine will be supplied for free or at partial cost will be decided next month in a board meeting of GAVI, a global health partnership of public and private sector organisations dedicated to "immunisation for all".