Moderna Covid vaccine seized from drug store, paramedic arrested

Moderna Covid vaccine seized from drug store, paramedic arrested

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested a paramedic in the Bangladesh capital’s Dakkhinkhan area for storing 28 doses of the Moderna vaccine at his drugstore-cum-clinic and nearby house.

A metropolitan magistrate court on Thursday sent the arrested paramedic Bijoy Krishna Talukdar of Barguna after the police produced him in the court in a case filed under the Special Power Act with Dakkhinkhan police station.

Azizul Haque Mia, the inspector of the police station, said that they prosecuted Bijoy and unnamed two others in the incident and the court posted August 23 for a remand hearing and sent him to jail.

Bijoy Krishna Talukdar was apprehended at his drugstore-cum-clinic called Daridra Paribar Seba at Hazipara's Chalaban area at about 10:00pm on Wednesday.

Two ampules of the vaccine containing 14 doses each were recovered from the store, the official said.

Azizul Haque said they had been tipped off by a couple who got the jab at Tk 500 each and conducted the drive to make the arrest.

The police investigators said that Bijoy had worked at a vaccination centre during the mass inoculation campaign and possibly he stole the doses from there for sale.

The Directorate General of Health Service was informed about the matter and an investigation was on to probe the case.

Nasima Sultana, additional director general at the DGHS, said the matter must be investigated.