Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is manifesting her humanitarian gesture towards the needy people hit hard by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as she did during the first wave last year.
She is extending humanitarian support towards the low-income people, including extremely poor, workless, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers and farmers who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
More than Tk 15 billion has already been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalised people during the second wave of coronavirus, as per a UNB report.
As part of her humanitarian assistance, the Prime Minister is going to provide cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 365,000 low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive this tough time.
On Sunday next, she will inaugurate the disbursement of the financial assistance for these marginalised families.
"Soon after the second wave of coronavirus got visible, the Prime Minister instantly directed to start humanitarian assistance activities," said Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
Noting that the Prime Minister sent cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 365,000 families during the first wave, he said, "This time, she directed us to make cash transfer for the second time. The Prime Minister will launch the cash support disbursement among 365,000 poor and helpless families on May 2."
She has kept aside Tk 9.12 billion to provide cash support to 365,000 families across the country, said the Secretary.
Each family will directly receive Tk 2,500 through G2P (Government-to-Person) as the cash money will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) - Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash.
Since the Covid-19 lockdown is enforced from April 14 last, marginalised people like temporary workless, destitute, day labourers, rickshaw and van pullers, transport workers, Hijra and beggars in urban and rural areas, said the PMO Secretary.
As per the PM's directives, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk 5.90 billion to the field-level administration to provide support to the needy people and now the disbursement of the money continues, he said.
Besides, the Prime Minister allocated Tk 105 million against the deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to poor and destitute people, said the PMO Secretary.
In addition, different government agencies continue their social safety net activities and expedite the activities in some cases so that the general people would not suffer, PMO Secretary Miah said.
The Prime Minister with own initiative has provided Tk 100 million to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardships due to the fallout of the pandemic, he said.
He said the government introduced a call centre (333) service mainly targeting the middle class people who feel hesitation or ashamed to seek assistance publicly. If anyone seeks help by calling 333, the local administration would send assistance to his or her home secretly, said the secretary.
Tofazzel Hossain said harvesting of paddy in the Haor region is being completed quickly as per the Prime Minister's directives and 80 per cent paddy has already been harvested.
He said the local administration took initiative to hire workers from other regions for harvesting paddy in the Haor region, while the ministry concerned supplied harvesters and reapers to the region.