Govt is trying to protect people from COVID-19: PM

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government is trying its best to protect the people and the country from the clutch of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, BSS reports.

“We have been trying our best to protect the people of our country by extending assistance to the people of all strata,” she said, joining a donation handover ceremony through video conferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban here this morning.

The premier said the government is trying to save the people by protecting their health, keeping the economical activities continuing and ensuring social security.

PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus received cheques for the donated amounts, on behalf of the premier, for the PM’s Relief and Welfare Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here.

The prime minister said her government is relaxing some sectors mainly to save the lives of the people as everything had been stalled in the last few months.

She said the government has been providing assistance to the people of all classes ranging from the lower middle class to the middle and even the upper class mainly to save them from the COVID-19 fallout.

“We have been giving assistance for all from the government and also from our party (Awami League). Many well-off people have also stood by the people,” she added.

Turning to healthcare services, the premier said her government has been providing services to the COVID-19 patients free of cost, adding, “It is very costly to conduct COVID-19 test and treat coronavirus patients. Yet, the government has been providing healthcare services free of cost to the coronavirus patients and suspects.”

The prime minister said her government has been giving special stimulus packages, which is 3.7 percent of the total GDP, mainly to keep moving the economic activities.

“Our economy had been completely halted in the last three or four months. Despite that, we have been working for the welfare of the people as Bangladesh Awami League is an organization established by the Father of the Nation and it only works for the welfare of the people,” she added.

The prime minister greeted the organisations and individuals for making their contributions to fight COVID-19, saying that Bangladesh would definitely win the battle against the unseen enemy with united efforts of all.

Noting that the position of Bangladesh is well in comparison to many countries due to timely measures taken by her government, Sheikh Hasina reiterated her stance on making all possible efforts to mitigate the hardships of the people and offset the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladesh.

Liberation War Affairs Ministry, Science and Technology Ministry, Bridges Division of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Defence Ministry, Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority, Karnaphuli Fertlizer Company Limited, Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Companies Association, IDLC Finance Ltd, IPDC Finance Ltd, Lanka-Bangla Finance Ltd, Uttara Finance and Investment Ltd, Jessore University of Science and Technology, GMS Composite Knitting Industries Limited and GSM Testile Ltd, Bangladesh Association of Construction Industries, Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Ali Baba and Jack Ma Foundation, Fashion Globe Group, Anwar Group of Industries, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, Sotsangya, Hemayetpur, Pabna and PPS Plastic Pipe Industries Ltd made the contributions to the PM’s fund.

Awami League Advisory Council Member Muhammad Sahabuddin Chuppu, specialist of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dhanmondi, Dr Rafa Islam, medical officer of BIRDEM, Dr Sonia Zemin Preet, and Lecturer of ZH Shikder Medical College, Mirpur, Dr Sadia Ahmed, also contributed to the fund.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim was present on the occasion.

The premier said her government has been trying to help the people of all professions so that they do not experience hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have been giving assistance to the people of all professions ranging from the workers and day-labourers to the small traders for their livelihoods to mitigate their hardships during the pandemic,” she added.

She said that her government turned Bangladesh into a digital country in line with the electoral pledge of 2008.

“Many things such as sending cash assistance to people, treating them keeping at home, conducting trade and commerce, sale and purchase, and exchanging views could be possible through online as Bangladesh was turned into a digital country,” she continued.

The premier said it could not be possible if the digital Bangladesh was not established and the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 was not launched by the Awami League government.