ZCZC
BSS-71
HASAN-JOURNO-CHEQUE-DISTRIBUTION
Bangladesh sets rare instance of aiding COVID-hit journos: Hasan
JASHORE, July 29, 2020 (BSS)- Terming the providing of financial assistance to journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic as a rare example in this sub-continent, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Bangladesh has set up this humanitarian instance by aiding journalists to get over the crisis.
There is no such example in the sub-continent including India and Pakistan of providing supports to journalists amid the Coronavirus pandemic, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made it happen in Bangladesh, he added.
“The Prime Minister stands beside the journalists during the ongoing COVID-19 situation and no such example of providing assistance to journalist exists in neighbouring countries, like India, Pakistan and Nepal,” he said, addressing the programme of cheques distribution among the journalists of nine districts of Khulna division at the meeting room of circuit house of Jashore.
The information minister said, “I personally talked with the finance minister on the day of passing budget to release money for the journalists’ welfare trust fund. The supports will be continued in phases and all journalists irrespective of difference of opinions who have fallen in financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic would get the supports.”
Hasan said many Awami Leaders and activists have been affected by the virus for standing beside the common people while many leaders, workers and even minister, lawmakers died due to the Coronavirus.
On the other hand, he said, the BNP leaders are only giving statements and showing their faces on televisions. They (BNP) are not standing beside the masses, he added.
The information minister said no country across the world has been free from the virus and this is a global catastrophe. The virus did not spare even any country, including the advanced ones, while Bangladesh scenario was better than many developed nations and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making her best efforts to protect the lives and livelihoods, he added.
He said the expatriate Bangladeshis in Wuhan of China were brought back home with the assistance of the government and they were kept in quarantine and while the government bore all expenses in this regard.
Primary health checkup is being held at all ports including airports, he added.
The information minister said the government had taken preparations for celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But it (government) cancelled the programmes of March 17, the birthday of the Father of the Nation, and March 26, the Independence Day, as the first COVID-19 patient was detected on March 8, he added.
He said, “I didn’t sit for a single day during the pandemic. Minister, lawmakers and national leaders have died due to the virus. All Awami League leaders including ministers and lawmakers are in the field to stand beside the masses.”
The information minister said AL senior leader Mohammad Nasim, advisory council member Haji Maqbul, state minister for religious affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and lawmaker Israfil Alam stood beside the common people and died at the end.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also could not sit for a single day. She is doing her works relentlessly for the masses, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The information minister said Bangladesh is one of the countries where the death rate is lower and this has become possible only for the Prime Minister’s pragmatic steps and farsighted leadership. No people died due to starvation during the epidemic, he added.
Terming the journalists as the front-fighters in the ongoing pandemic, the information minister said the journalists have been working risking their lives, while many of them have been infected and some died.
Owners of the media houses could not have run their outlets, if the journalists would not have worked, he added.
Hasan urged the owners of the media outlets to stand beside the journalists during the present situation.
Lawmaker of Jashore-6 constituency Shahin Chaklader, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Molla Jalal, Secretary General Shaban Mahmud, deputy commissioner Tamizul Islam Khan, police super Ashraf Hossain and AL district unit president Shahidul Islam, addressed the function as special guests with Jashore Journalists Union (JJU) president Sajed Rahman in the chair. JJU general secretary Milan Rahman conducted it.
Some 338 journalists of nine districts received cheques in the function.
BSS/CORR/KC/PSB/KU/2126 HRS