DHAKA, May 13, 2020 (BSS) – As the nation fights against the terrible
COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the right decisions
and measures as well to address the gravity of the challenges for tacking
coronavirus crisis, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.
“The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, eased general
holidays in some sectors to keep the lives and livelihoods of the country’s
people smooth. She always takes right decisions,” he said.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, was speaking at a
virtual press conference on the contemporary affairs from his official
residence here.
“Many countries relaxed lockdown to keep their economics vibrant. Even,
our neighboring India has already eased lockdown,” he added.
He urged the people, who think that the government has taken wrong
decisions over COVID-19 crisis, to consider the country’s socioeconomic
reality.
Apart from tackling the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Quader said, adequate
measures have been taken to control mosquito in city corporations and
municipalities across the country.
He said there were reports that dengue may break out in the country amid
the coronavirus crisis and that is why social awareness is a must to prevent
mosquito menace.
The AL general secretary said standing beside people during disasters is a
long tradition of Awami League. Following the instruction of AL President
Sheikh Hasina, AL leaders and workers have stood by the country’s people, he
added.
He said the AL men have been providing relief and cash assistance to the
poor and destitute people, distributing iftar-sehiri items and vegetables,
and carrying out telemedicine and free ambulance services and other voluntary
activities like harvesting of farmers’ paddy, in different parts of the
country.
Quader said the AL has so far provided food assistance to nearly 1.20
families while cash support of around Taka 10 crore to the poor and destitute
people.
Besides, he said, the AL relief and social welfare sub-committee
distributed food items at 150 upazilas of 50 districts and the food
distribution programme will continue.
He said around five lakh antiseptic soaps, over 10,000 hand sanitisers and
2,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and more than 100 thermometres were
distributed.
The road transport and bridges minister said alongside the AL’s relief
programme, the government’s relief distribution programme continues to help
the poor and destitute people cope with the coronavirus situation.
“The government has already provided support to four crore people. It
distributed about 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice in 64 districts. One crore
people were brought under rationing system. Cash assistance will be provided
to 50 lakh people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr,” he added.