PM announces cash aid for jobless on Eid

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday announced that the government would provide cash assistance before Eid to mitigate the sufferings of those turned jobless amid the coronavirus outbreak.

‘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 made the announcement 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 her official Ganabhaban residence.

The districts are Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has directed to open haats, bazzars and shops so the people do not face any problem to have iftar and sehri and they can buy goods as the Eid-ul-Fitr is ahead.

The prime minister said to keep the wheels of the economy running, the government has also instructed to reopen small and medium industries across the country by keeping the people protected and giving attention to their health.

‘We’ve already reopened the offices and courts in a limited scale so that the people don’t suffer in getting services,’ she said.

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.

While talking about payment of bank loan interests, the prime minister 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.

The premier said the government has announced a set of stimulus packages of nearly Tk 1 lakh crore which is 3.5 per cent of the country’s GDP to offset the economic fallouts of coronavirus outbreak on the country.

Sheikh Hasina said the government had earlier issued 50 lakh ration cards for the vulnerable people so that they can purchase rice at Taka 10 per kg.

The prime minister said that the government declared a Tk 5000 crore special stimulus package so that the small and medium farmers get benefits from it. ‘Besides, we’re giving subsidy of Tk 9,500 crore to farmers,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the leaders and workers of Awami League, Krishak League and Chhatra League have stood beside the framers to harvest their paddy.

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 Tk 750 crore as an incentive package for them,’ she said, adding that the government has announced Tk 100 crore 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.

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.

‘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.

Describing agriculture as the most precious asset for Bangladesh, the premier said the country could advance further by capitalizing on this asset.

Pointing out that there is an adequate stock of food grains in the country, Sheikh Hasina asked all concerned to make sure that no one remains hungry.

She said her government has set a target to procure 21 lakh tonnes of food grains.

Turing to transportation of goods, the prime minister directed the railways minister, who was connected from Panchagar, to take effective measures for transportation of all types of goods and food grains particularly those perishable by trains.

Regarding seasonal monga (a famine-like situation) which was once a common phenomenon in Rangpur region, Sheikh Hasina asked all concerned to take special measures so that the monga does not come back again in the region.

The premier called upon all to maintain the social distancing and stay-at-home policies in accordance with directives of the World Health Organisation.

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

Relating to providing healthcare services to COVID-19 patients, Sheikh Hasina said her government has already dedicated many hospitals in districts and upazilas across the country.

The premier said the second unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital has been kept ready for treatment of the COVID-19 patients while the unit-1 will render services to normal patients.

Spelling out the government’s measures for the protection of physicians, nurses and health workers, the prime minister said that the government would recruit 2,000 physicians and 6,000 nurses.

She appreciated introduction of mobile healthcare services by the Panchagarh district administration to reach medicare services to every doorstep in the localities having no community clinic.

PM’s principal secretary Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function while secretaries concerned were present at the Ganabhaban in Dhaka.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net