Bangladesh has sealed deals for 17.5 million more coronavirus vaccine doses, the health minister said, as the country battles record deaths and its caseload passed one million.

The country of 169 million people has imposed its harshest ever lockdown as it seeks to curb a major surge in cases and record numbers of deaths, AFP reports.

The lockdown has been in place for two weeks and is backed by troops on the streets to keep people in their homes.It is expected the re strictions will be extended past the current end date of July 14.

Health minister Zahid Maleque said the government was also concentrating on increasing the number of vaccine doses available.