ZCZC
BSS-24
COVID-19-ECONOMY-MEASURES-2 LAST DHAKA
In her nationwide address on the eve of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, Sheikh
Hasina said the government is providing food assistance apart from cash aid,
adding 1,62,867 metric tons of rice and Taka 91,47,72,000 have so far been
allocated.
“We’ve given an allocation of 80,000 MT rice for selling it at Taka 10 per
kilogram and issued additional 50 lakh cards this month for the destitute
families through which they can buy this rice,” she said.
The premier said a total of Taka 1,250 crore was given to 50 lakh families
that have lost jobs but were not included in any assistance programme,
through mobile banking and each of the families received Taka 2,500.
“More than Taka 17 crore was given to the qaumi madrasa students and
teachers in two phases, while Tk 122 crore two lakh and 15 thousand was
provided to imams and muazzin of the mosques as financial assistance,” she
added.
Officials said the government has also made special arrangements for the
marginalised community of society and these programmes will continue until
the situation becomes normal.
A total of Tk 2,500 crore was allocated to Palli Sanchay Bank,Karmasangsthan Bank,Probsahi Kalyan Bank and Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation to help the youths and expatriates who lost jobs for the pandemic.
The government has started procurement of paddy and rice so that the
farmers get fair prices. “In the current season, 22.25 lakh MT food grains,
two lakh MT more than the previous year, will be procured,”the officials said.
Besides, the government has made arrangements for supplying combined
harvesters and reapers at subsidised prices and for this Tk 200 crore was
allocated. Another Tk 5,000 crore has been allocated for the farmers at only
4 percent interest to offset the agriculture fallout of the COVID-19.
According to sources, loan facilities of Tk 5,000 crore against special
fund for export-oriented industries have been made effective and those who
could not join the work are also getting 60 percent salary.
Payment of salary and allowances from this incentive package has already
started,the sources added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made an announcement that all the
programmes that the government launched to help the people affected badly in
the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak will continue until the present crisis is
over.
“I and my government will stay beside you Insha Allah until the crisis goes away,” she said.
BSS/GM-SH/GA/1807 hrs