Dhaka, Jan. 18 -- As many as 2.0 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in Bangladesh from India as a gift on Wednesday, the health secretary says.

The Serum Institute of India has manufactured the shots developed by the UK's University of Oxford and drugmaker AstraZeneca, according to Md Abdul Mannan, reports bdnews24.com.

Health ministry officials said India's Ministry of External Affairs got in touch with the foreign ministry to send the doses. The high commission also sent a letter on Monday.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque revealed India's plan to send the vaccines earlier in the day, but he declined to specify the number of doses and the date of arrival.

He said India might ship these doses to Bangladesh before the firs...