DHAKA, Dec 10, 2020 (BSS) – The government initiated proactive
policy measures since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic under prudent
guidance and close supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
according to a senior government official.
“Timely and generous response from the development partners was
instrumental in rolling out stimulus packages. Positive contribution
of the government responses is evident from the signs of economic
recovery,” Finance Division Senior Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder told
a view-exchange meeting.
The Finance Division arranged the meeting on COVID-19 response and
stimulus packages at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
While reading out a keynote paper, Talukder said out of 21 stimulus
packages, 14 packages with total cost of Taka 336.03 billion are being
financed from the budget allocations.
Remaining 7 packages with cost of Taka 877.50 billion are being
financed by the banking system, he said.
The senior secretary said the government has so far received budget
support of US$ 2.03 billion from the development partners to boost its
capacity to finance the economic recovery.
The prolong crisis, especially further global slowdown due to second
wave of COVID-19 pandemic, could be a major risk to full and
sustainable economic recovery, he said.
He said the government is negotiating further budge support with a
number of development partners to increase its capacity to address the
possible future challenges.
COMPENSATION FOR THE FRONT LINERS
Talukder said the government declared compensation package (in
early April) for the employees risking their lives to manage the
pandemic.
Eligible employees, who are directly engaged in managing the
COVID-19 pandemic, are – doctors, nurses and medical workers, law
enforcing agencies and other government employees directly engaged to
manage the pandemic, he said.
So far, he said, families of 71 deceased government employees
received Taka 275 million.
The senior secretary said doctors, nurses and other healthcare
workers had to work extra shifts and take additional risks to treat
COVID-19 patients.
So, he said, the government decided to provide them honorarium of
two month’s basic pay, while the Finance Division issued a circular in
early July to this end.
The payment of honorarium is expected to start from Jan 2021, he added.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Providing rice, the basic staple, at a lower price was one of the
key social protection strategies of the government during the COVID-19
pandemic, Talukder said.
Since April 2020, a total of 2,18,000 metric tonnes of rice was sold
to poor households at Taka 10 per kg, he said.
The senior secretary said April and May 2020 has seen sudden
economic slowdown due to the pandemic.
With long holidays and temporary closure of businesses, there were
job loss that made large population vulnerable, especially the low
income segment, he said.
Talukder said the Prime Minister has declared the ‘None will Go
Hungry Policy’ and the government rolled out free food distribution
programme across the county.
During the Aril and May, 211,017 metric tonnes of rice distributed, he said.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Tajul
Islam and Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam also spoke at the
meeting.