Government to relocate planned vaccine hub project to Munshiganj

Bangladesh's long-awaited vaccine research and production hub is being relocated from Gopalganj to Munshiganj in a move that will push up project costs and extend the timeline by two more years.
First approved in 2023 to cut reliance on vaccine imports and avoid huge import costs after Bangladesh's graduation from LDC status, the Essential Biotech and Research Centre project has yet to take off due to delays over land and location issues.
Officials said the new site at the BSCIC Chemical Industrial Park at Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj will offer better connectivity, utilities, and proximity to Dhaka, making it more suitable for a high-security research and production facility.
The relocation comes at a cost, however, with the project's budget rising by Tk 3.85 billion to Tk 34 billion.
The Health Services Division has submitted the first revised proposal to the Planning Commission to formalise the changes.
Officials said that the government currently procures vaccines under Gavi initiatives at subsidised rates,  and in some cases even as grants.

However, this benefit, available as an LDC, will lapse after Bangladesh graduates in 2026. At that point, the country will need to fully pay for at least 16 essential vaccines.
To avert the potential spike in import costs, the government launched the project with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The project was originally cleared by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October 2023 at a cost of Tk 30.15 billion.
It was scheduled to run from January 2024 to December 2030 under the state-owned Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL).
Officials said progress was delayed due to complications over site selection and land acquisition.
A review at the Economic Relations Division in late 2024 highlighted that the Gopalganj site was too remote for a vaccine research and production hub, which requires proximity to Dhaka for coordination with regulators, scientists, and smooth logistics.
Following these recommendations, authorities decided to shift the project to the BSCIC Chemical Industrial Park at Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj, where 40 acres of land have been allocated.
The project has been renamed "Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centre at Munshiganj (1st Revised)."
Officials said the new site offers better access to utilities, transport, and waste management, and is close to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
It will also sit adjacent to EDCL's new pharmaceutical plant in the same industrial park.
The relocation has contributed to a cost escalation, with the health ministry proposing a revised estimate of Tk 34 billion.
The government will contribute Tk 3.63 billion, while ADB will provide Tk 30.38 billion, reflecting the added land costs and changes in the USD-BDT exchange rate.
Given the two-year delay and fresh procurement requirements, the project tenure has been extended until December 2032 to accommodate the revised design and construction schedule. If endorsed, construction of the Munshiganj-based biotech hub will finally begin after two years of stagnation.
Officials said the project is expected to boost vaccine research and production, reduce reliance on imports, and improve preparedness for future health emergencies.
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