DHAKA, April 13, 2020 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today
said the government assistance amid nationwide COVID-19 shutdown covered over
one third of the population while the poorer ones were getting food at their
doorsteps.
“Apart from its routine social safety net programmes, the government is
providing different types of assistances to more than one third people of the
country as the global coronavirus pandemic created an unusual situation,” he
told a press briefing at his official residence in the Minto Road area.
Hasan, also ruling Awami League’s joint general secretary, said the Relief
and Disaster Management Ministry by now allocated 66,000 metric tonnes of
rice and Taka 25 crore among people who were rendered jobless even at village
level.
He said the Food Ministry, on the other hand, allocated Taka 2.10 crore
for the vulnerable people during the crisis.
Hasan said the crisis prompted policemen to appear with an extraordinary
mission in reaching foods to middle income people’s doorsteps, responding to
their phone calls or calling them up as queuing up in lines for relief could
hurt their dignity.
The minister said city corporations in Dhaka and Chattogram and other major
cities, administrations in field level and ruling Awami League leaders and
workers extended as well their hands to people in different ways.
Hasan said under a government programme some 50 lakh low income families
were getting rice at Taka 10 per kg for several years for a period of seven
months a year while authorities now mulled to extend its time span.
The minister said the food ministry simultaneously allocated 35,828 metric
tonnes of rice to be sold through 689 centers under an “open market sale”
(OMS) programme in March and April across the country.
Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier launched different
allowances for the country’s marginalized people aiming at transforming
Bangladesh into a welfare state.
He said under the social safety net programmes, the government this year
has allocated Taka 1,020 crore for 17 lakh widows, Taka 2,640 crore for 44
lakh elderly people, Taka 1,390 crore for 16 lakh destitute people and Taka
1,182 crore under VGD programme and 20,320 metric tonnes of rice under the
VGF programme.
Hailing the government’s steps to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the
country, Hasan said, “The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has
taken right decision at right time to contain the virus. When she felt
necessity of declaring nationwide general holiday,she did it. Closure of
school-college and locking down different areas were also taken place at
right time”.
The government has also taken different initiatives to make people aware
of the global pandemic coronavirus, the AL joint general secretary said,
adding that the people, are staying at homes responding to the prime
minister’s call, which she made through addressingthe nation on March 25.
Noting that the COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh is better than many
countries, he said but the government is not sitting idle with satisfaction
rather it has taken all the possible measures to contain the spread of the
virus and the government is still taking preparations to face any situation.
The prime minister has taken various steps from the very begging of the
outbreak of COVID-19 in the country considering the state of working people
and daily wage earners, the minister said, adding, “I hope, we would be able
to overcome the catastrophe with the blessings of Almighty Allah and
collective efforts, irrespective of political ideology and personal views,”
he said.