ZCZC
BSS-50
PM-COVID-19-BOISHAKH 3 LAST DHAKA
The premier said doctors, nurses and other health workers have been
providing healthcare to the COVID-19 patients from the front-line despite
having resource constraints and health risks.
“Your profession is like one kind of challenge. Please don’t loose your
mental strength in this crisis period as the whole of the countrymen are with
you,” she said.
Extending her heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and other health
workers on behalf of the countrymen, Sheikh Hasina said she has already
directed the authorities concerned to make a list of those government health
workers who are dealing directly with the coronavirus patients.
“Special honorarium will be given to them and Taka a 100 crore has been
allocated in this regard,” she said.
The prime minister said a process is underway to introduce insurance for
doctors, nurses, health workers, field level administrative officers, members
of the law enforcement agencies, armed forces, BGB, and other officials
involved directly in coronavirus prevention.
If anyone of them is infected by the deadly virus, Sheikh Hasina said, he
or she will get Taka 5 lakh to Tk 10 lakh, as health insurance, based on the
rank.
“In case of the death of any person in COVID-19, he or she will get five
times higher of the amount,” she said, adding a Taka 750 crore has been
allocated for the health and life insurances.
Mentioning that there is no shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
in the country, the premier said the country’s people expect that the health
professionals will provide healthcare services to the COVID-19 patients
keeping themselves safe from coronavirus.
Sheikh Hasina simultaneously urged hospital authorities to give attention
so that general patients are not deprived of the healthcare services.
She thanked the members of the law enforcement agencies and armed forces,
government officials, media people and others engaged in emergency services
and carrying COVID-19 patients and funeral of their dead bodies.
The premier said different global agencies are now giving projections that
the whole of the world is going to embrace a global economic recession.
“You know that the best way to prevent this virus is quarantine or to
confine anyone in a room,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that more than 250 crore people of the world are
now confined to houses, while people are being confined to their houses
through enforcing lockdown in places, enforcing mass holidays to somewhere
and also imposing curfews to other places.
The prime minister said the general holidays have remained in force in the
country since March 25 and will continue for 32 days in a row while all kinds
of general operations remain shut except the emergency services.
She said the lion’s share of the country’s industries and business houses
have remain closed, while the operations of small-scale industries as well as
movement of public transports and flights have also remained suspended.
The premier said negative impact has started to put on in the country’s
import and export operations due to the impact of the deadly disease.
“Many of our expatriates have started to become jobless in many countries.
As a result, the inward remittance flow has almost come to a stagnant level.
We’re not out of the global system and the shock of the global economic
recession has become a matter of worry for our economy,” she said.
On the occasion of Bangla Nabo Borsho, the prime minister greeted the
countrymen and said the Bangalees across the country and also throughout the
world usually celebrate the Bengali New Year with festivity and joy.
She said the people from all walks of life throng the Ramna Park,
Charukola, Suhrawardy Uddyan and other parts of the capital while the whole
of the country wears a festive look with rural fairs and halkhatas.
But this time the premier urged the countrymen to share the joy of the
Bangla New Year with their family members through savoring various local
seasonal fruits like mangoes, guavas and watermelons.
“Please, don’t go outside of your houses without any valid reason and also
don’t gather anywhere. Please also do follow the health guidelines and thus
save yourselves and your family members from the infection of coronavirus,”
she said.
She added that the government has banned all the outdoor programmes of the
Bangla New Year considering the greater interest of public health as the
lethal virus has already started infecting people in the country.
Sheikh Hasina said the programmes of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and the Independence Day were aired
in radio, television and other digital media, avoiding public gatherings.
“The programmes of Pahela Baishakh will also be celebrated in the same
way,” she said.
“This time, we’ll enjoy the programmes of Bangla Nabo Barsho staying at
home. We’ll welcome the new year singing the Kobi Guru’s ageless song – Eso
He Boishakh Esho Esho,” she added.
At the outset of her speech, the premier recalled with profound respect
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of
the August 15 carnage and the four national leaders.
She also remembered 30 lakh martyrs and two lakh repressed women of the
country’s Liberation War.
BSS/MRI/GM/AHJ/SH/KU/2140 hrs