Low-income people and day laborers have become anxious and want to get engaged in work at any cost to survive with their family members.
Amid the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the country is suffering a financial loss of around Tk 3,300 crore a day. In such a situation, at least 6 crore low-income working people across the country are in severe crisis.
The government has also taken initiatives to keep the wheel of the economy moving. In order to keep the economy afloat, a limited number of manufacturing and export-oriented organizations have been opened.
Shahjahan Mia, a day laborer who has a five-member family, said: “I have been literally starving as I don’t have any job right now.”
He also asked, “How will we survive in this city?”
Another day labor, Rofikul Islam, said that he used to earn around one thousand taka per day. But, now he is passing very tough time as there is hardly anything to do.
He also expressed his agony saying, “There is no choice left for me except begging. I’m jobless. The situation has been worsening day by day”
The familiar appearance of busy Dhaka has become unfamiliar after the government declared a general holiday in the country since March 26.
Everything was shut down except emergency services, urging people to stay at home. Low-income people have become the worst sufferers due to the lockdown and social distancing in the country.
According to experts, measures should be taken to lift the lockdown in a timely manner to save country's economy and people.
The situation of Bangladesh and other developed countries are not the same as some 80% people of this country depend on daily work for their livelihood.
Nazneen Ahmed, an economist at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) said: “Agriculture sector should get priority to keep economy alive.”
Besides, the supply chain has to be maintained under supervision of the government.
She also advised that large factories can continue their production with 20 to 30 per cent workers. The workers must keep a fixed distance in compliance with the health regulations, she added.
On the other hand, economist and professor Zahidur Rahman told Bangladesh Post, “There is no doubt that the low-income people have been suffering due to the covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the number of infections is on the upper trend. We have to mull over health and economy both.”
In the current context, the Professor of Psychology at the University of Dhaka (DU) Md Kamal Uddin said that health risks, food and job security should be taken into consideration first. People need to face this deadly disaster with courage and strength, he added.
The expert further said, “People are concerned about food and job. The must be ensured about their basic needs during this lockdown.”
