Khalid for avoiding Eid journey barring urgency

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DHAKA, July 24, 2020 (BSS)-State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today called upon the home-bound people specially launch passengers to avoid their journey during the Eid-ul-Azha barring any urgency to remain safe from being affected by the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).

“You can celebrate many festivals and Eids in your life. Do not push your life at risk amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Please avoid travelling on launches risking life” he said.

The state minister was addressing a memorial meeting on journalists who died of coronavirus disease and the handing over ceremony of cheques to family of late members of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at its Nasrul Hamid auditorium.

Appreciating the role of the media during the Covid-19 crisis, Khalid said the media is the fourth pillar of a state and it has a big role to play for the betterment of a country.

He urged the journalists to do development journalism instead of only presenting negative news.

A total of Tk. 3 lakh, including TK. 2 lakh from Group Insurance and TK. 1 lakh from DRU’s welfare fund, was handed over to each family of the four deceased on the occasion.

Family members of late journalists Azad Hossain Sumon, Humayun Kabir Khokon, Khandaker Mahitul Islam and Aslam Rahman received the cheques. At the function, two members were given cheques for Tk. 1.5 lakh as medical grants.

Jiban Islam of Bangladesh Observer and Afroza Nazneen of Alokito Bangladesh received the cheques for medical grant.

On the critics’ apprehensions about the country’s economy, the state minister said many people are out to say that the economy is getting collapsed but “I would like to say Bangladesh economy is rising not collapsing.”

He said incentives have been given to different sectors for coping with the crisis triggered by the coronavirus outbreak.

A budget of more than Tk. 5 lakh crore has been declared in this fiscal and 90 percent of the budget was implemented in the last financial year, he added. Giving an example of economic uplift, Khalid said the Padma Bridge is being constructed with the country’s own fund.

He said the image of Bangladesh will not get tarnished, because visionary leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is holding the helm of the country.