Cash assistance for jobless people before Eid: PM

NEWS DESK

The government will provide cash assistance before Eid-ul-Fitr to mitigate the sufferings of those rendered jobless amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the information while exchanging views with the public representatives and officials of eight districts of Rangpur division on the present coronavirus situation of the country through a videoconference from Ganabhaban on Monday, reports FT.

“We want to give cash assistance ahead of the Eid to those who have lost jobs due to the nationwide shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic to minimise their plight … we’ll do it to ensure their food security,” she said.

The prime minister also declared suspension of realising bank interest for two months and also hinted at extending the ongoing government holidays till May 15 in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sheikh Hasina said many people have already taken bank loans – ranging from big to small amounts.

“But realising their loan interest has been suspended for two months as they had no work and business in the last two months due to the pandemic,” she said.

“We’ll take the next steps considering the issues that who have taken what amount of loan and for which sector.”

The premier said the government stopped the movement of buses, launches and trains alongside the flights considering the situation arising out of coronavirus outbreak.

“But we’ve resumed the operation of rail services in a limited scale for the convenience of the people and postal parcel service,” she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said these will have to be done by avoiding mass gathering as there is a chance of spreading the disease further for this.

The premier said the government has announced a set of stimulus packages to offset the economic fallouts of coronavirus outbreak on the country.

“We’ve declared these special packages so that the businesspeople could keep up their trade and business,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government had earlier issued 5.0 million ration cards for the vulnerable people so that they can purchase rice at Taka 10 per kg.

 “We’ll now give 5.0 million more ration cards so the poor and distressed people don’t suffer for want of food in this crisis period” she added.

The prime minister said that the government declared a Taka 50.00 billion special stimulus package so that the small and medium farmers get benefits from it. “Besides, we’re giving subsidy of Taka 95.00 billion to farmers,” she said.

The prime minister thanked the health workers, including doctors and nurses, officials of the administration, the members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, saying that they have been working round the clock by risking their lives to contain the disease.

 “We’ve allocated Taka 7.50 billion as an incentive package for them,” she said, adding that the government has announced Taka 1.00 billion stimulus package for those who are truly providing healthcare services from the frontline.

Mentioning that there is no shortage of medical equipment to protect all, she said the government is importing the equipment side by side producing those here.

 “Besides, many people donate the equipment and we’re working in this way,” she said.

Pointing out that a number of media workers have already been infected by the disease, Sheikh Hasina requested them to perform their duties by protecting themselves.

The prime minister once again asked all concerned to make sure that no single inch of land across the country remains fallowed to effectively fight the possible famine due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 “Different international organisations forecast that the world may experience famine and great economic depression due to the coronavirus pandemic. So, we’ve to make sure that a small piece of land remains uncultivated as the land of our country is very fertile, to combat the possible famine,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina instructed the agriculture minister to bring all the lands under cultivation immediately after harvesting of the Boro paddy as part of the efforts in bringing out the best possible outcome from the agriculture to meet the demand of Bangladesh and other countries.

The premier called upon all to maintain the social distancing and stay-at-home policies in accordance with directives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as part of the precautionary measures to protect themselves from the COVID-19.

 “I would like to request all again not to go outside home unnecessarily, avoid mass gatherings and follow the health directives as you don’t know through whom you can be infected since the disease is highly contagious,” she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina urged all to wear masks alongside washing hands and taking warm water.

PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function while secretaries concerned were present at the Ganabhaban here.