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Spelling out various initiatives to check the onslaught of the COVID-19 on the overall development and the lives of people, the premier told the parliament that her government is set to use the vaccine which comes first in the world to make people cure from the coronavirus.
“Different countries across the globe have been conducting research on vaccines for COVID-19. We have heard from many countries (about their vaccine innovation). But we have approached all the countries (to avail their vaccine) and allocated money to this end. We will take the vaccine that comes first and use it to make our people cure from the coronavirus,” she added.
In reply to allegations of corruption and irregularities in health sector made by GM Quader, the premier said that the government has been taking various measures to tackle the crisis arising out of the coronavirus pandemic and keep running the wheels of economy and the development and for this reason money has been spending like water.
Noting that they did not consider how much money was spent or was there any system loss as their first priority was to save the lives of people, she said, “Protecting lives of the people matters for us instead of how much money was spent.”
She urged all to talk about corruption with having specific data referring to corruption allegation made by GM Quader on purchasing a chair or test kit for milk, the premier said that the amount of money that was mentioned was not for only purchasing a chair and a kit for testing milk rather for purchasing a unit of chairs and setting up a laboratory for testing milk.
The premier said her government has been able to bring the situation under control which many developed countries couldn’t do as they have taken all possible measures since the outbreak of COVID-19.
She said her government so far announced 21 stimulus packages of Taka 112,633 crore which is 4.03 percent of the GDP to ensure moving the wheels of the country’s economy and the people of the country wouldn’t have to suffer due to the coronavirus.
“Our duty is to work for the people’s welfare. We are doing so. It will not be wise to become frustrated once danger comes rather to take preparation to face that,” she continued.
Besides the stimulus packages, the premier said that her government has been providing financial assistance to the people of different professions such as teachers of educational institutions and imam’s of mosques, adding, “We did all the things as we are doing politics for the people.”
Due to the timely measures of the government despite everything becoming standstill due to the coronavirus , the country’s forex reserve now stands at $ 39.40 billion while the per capita income is $ 2064 and the country’s exports has been showing a rising trend alongside its import.
She said that she personally talked to heads of state of many countries to increase the country’s export, particularly of RMG.
Responding to another allegation of Quader that the government has stopped bringing bodies of expatriate workers at its cost, the premier said that they are still continuing to bring the bodies of expatriate workers by special planes.
But she said the plane operation has been halted across the globe till now due to the coronavirus outbreak. In reply to another question on decreasing the price of WASA water, she requested all to show austerity in using water instead of wholesale use of it to lower the water bill.
Referring to an explosion in a mosque in Narayanganj, the premier said that it is a matter of sorrow that multiple people died in the explosion while offering prayers.
The mosque was built on a gas pipe without taking approval from the authorities concerned, she said, asking all not to build any establishment without taking prior permission and having no proper design.
BSS/AHJ/BR/1800 hrs