Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to launch today the disbursement of Taka 1,250 crore cash assistance among 50 lakh poor families hit hard amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, reports BSS.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the distribution of Taka 2,500 to each of the 50 lakh destitute families, affected badly due to COVID-19 outbreak, through mobile financial services (MFSs) from her official Ganabhaban residence tomorrow (today) morning,” State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman told BSS on Wednesday.
The total fund of Taka 1,250 crore will be distributed among the 50 lakh families through the mobile financial services (MFSs) – bKash, Rocket, Nagad and SureCash, he said.
Enamur said the total fund will be disbursed between May 14 and 18, and 10 lakh people will get the cash support through the MFSs every day.
About the selection of families, the state minister said their list has been prepared with the poorest 50 lakh families of the 1.25 crore vulnerable families who are now getting the government’s relief assistance.
Earlier on Monday, Finance Division has released Taka 1,257 crore for the cash assistance to the 50 lakh families.
“The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, eased general holidays in some sectors to keep the lives and livelihoods of the country’s people smooth. She always takes right decisions,” he said.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, was speaking at a virtual press conference on the contemporary affairs from his official residence.
“Many countries relaxed lockdown to keep their economics vibrant. Even, our neighboring India has already eased lockdown,” he added.
He urged the people, who think that the government has taken wrong decisions over COVID-19 crisis, to consider the country’s socioeconomic reality. Apart from tackling the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Quader said, adequate measures have been taken to control mosquito in city corporations and municipalities across the country.
He said there were reports that dengue may break out in the country amid the coronavirus crisis and that is why social awareness is a must to prevent mosquito menace.
The AL general secretary said standing beside people during disasters is a long tradition of Awami League. Following the instruction of AL President Sheikh Hasina, AL leaders and workers have stood by the country’s people, he added.
He said the AL men have been providing relief and cash assistance to the poor and destitute people, distributing iftar-sehiri items and vegetables, and carrying out telemedicine and free ambulance services and other voluntary activities like harvesting of farmers’ paddy, in different parts of the country.
Quader said the AL has so far provided food assistance to nearly 1.20 families while cash support of around Taka 10 crore to the poor and destitute people.
Besides, he said, the AL relief and social welfare sub-committee distributed food items at 150 upazilas of 50 districts and the food distribution programme will continue.
He said around five lakh antiseptic soaps, over 10,000 hand sanitisers and 2,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) and more than 100 thermometres were distributed.
The road transport and bridges minister said alongside the AL’s relief programme, the government’s relief distribution programme continues to help the poor and destitute people cope with the coronavirus situation.
“The government has already provided support to four crore people. It distributed about 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice in 64 districts. One crore people were brought under rationing system. Cash assistance will be provided to 50 lakh people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr,” he added.
