‘We are buying vaccines but providing it for free so that people can stay safe’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reaffirmed that the government will procure vaccines at any cost to protect people from coronavirus.
“We are bringing more vaccines, no matter how much money is required; we will bring more vaccines,” she said.
The prime minister said this while providing cash support of Tk2,500 to each 3.65 million low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive amid the pandemic.
She inaugurated the disbursement of the financial assistance for these marginalized families joining it from her official residence Ganabhaban virtually with deputy commissioners’ offices of Bhola, Joypurhat and Chittagong.
Each family will directly receive Tk2,500 through G2P (government-to-person) payments as the cash will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) — Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash.
The prime minister said the government is carrying out its vaccination program as it will provide vaccine doses to the people of this country.
Stressing that the government will put in all-out efforts as long as it is there, Sheikh Hasina said: “We are procuring each dose of the vaccine spending money, but providing it for free so that people can stay safe.”
Hasina urged all to follow health guidelines strictly for securing him/herself and others from the deadly Covid-19, no matter whether they have taken the vaccine shot or not.
Later, the prime minister talked to a cross-section of people, including the beneficiaries of the cash support program of Bhola, Joypurhat and Chittagong districts.
An amount of over Tk1,500 crore has been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalized people during the second wave of coronavirus. Soon after the second wave of the virus came in sight, the prime minister instantly directed to start the activities of humanitarian assistance.
As per her directive, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk590 crore to field-level administrations to provide support to the needy people and the disbursement of the money continues, officials said.
Besides, the prime minister allocated Tk10.5 crore against the deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to the poor and destitute, they said.
The prime minister at her own initiative has provided Tk10 crore to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardships due to the fallout of the pandemic.
