Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government is trying its best to mitigate the plight of the unattended people, hit hard due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
“There is a huge population who remain out of people’s attention in the current situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak. But we are trying our best to minimize their ordeal and sorrow by extending support to them in various ways,” she said while addressing the parliamentary session.
The Leader of the House also reiterated that she will continue to do everything necessary so that the people of the country do not go through hardship due to the Covid-19 outbreak, reports BSS.
“We’ll combat the coronavirus the way we tackled the super cyclone Amphan. Alongside we’ll continue to do whatever is necessary so that the life and livelihood of the people go on and they don’t suffer due to the coronavirus,” she added.
The prime minister was taking part in a discussion on an obituary reference brought by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the inaugural sitting of the eighth session of the 11th parliament.
The eighth session which is also the budget session of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) for the fiscal year (FY) 2020-2021 began Wednesday afternoon maintaining the health guidelines and social distancing.
Remembering recently deceased
At the outset of the day’s proceedings, the Speaker brought the obituary reference on distinguished persons who died since the 7th session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad.
They included member of current parliament Habibur Rahman Mollah and nine former lawmakers, including Khandaker Asaduzzaman, Alhaj Maqbul Hossain, Mamtaz Begum as well as preeminent academic National Professor Anisuzzaman, Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Mian’s wife Anwara Rabbi and former chief whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah’s wife Shahan Ara Abdullah.
The prime minister said the daily wage earners and those who do small works and trades became jobless due to the Covid-19.
“But our government is reaching food to every person and managing some cash for them by taking their information. We have also provided assistance to the orphanages and mosques … even we extended help to those who paint rickshaws by seeking them out,” she said.
Hasina said everybody knows the artists, but no one thinks about those who extend help to the artists.
“So I’ve already instructed the information minister and the ministry to assist these people,” she said.
The prime minister said her younger sister Sheikh Rehana requested her to look into the matter.
“It was the advice of Rehana to provide support to those who paint behind the rickshaws,” she said.
Hasina: As death is inevitable, there is nothing to fear
She also responded to the concern of the opposition chief whip about the safety of the prime minister due to the coronavirus who requested the Leader of the House to join parliament session virtually from Ganabhaban.
“I didn’t come to remain alive, I’ve come to sacrifice my life for the people of Bangla. So there is nothing to panic,” she said.
Hasina said: “Man is mortal. As I was born, I have to die one day and it may happen due to coronavirus, firing, or bombs, sickness or while speaking. As death is inevitable, there is nothing to fear. I did not panic in the past and won’t get scared in future.”
The premier said the entire world came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic which snatches hundreds of lives every day.
“The number of recoveries in Bangladesh is more. Despite that, panic prevails among the people,” she said.
All countries powerless
The Leader of the House said no matter how strong a country is in terms of economics or arms, no power works now.
“It seems to me that the coronavirus is the strongest and nature is taking its revenge,” she said.
The prime minister once again thanked the physicians, nurses, and health workers, administrative officials, members of the armed forces, and law enforcement agencies as well as her party leaders, and workers for rendering services to the people with utmost sincerity to contain the deadly disease.
Hasina also elaborated her government’s measures to tackle the cyclone Amphan and extended thanks to all concerned to work sincerely in this regard.
The prime minister recalled the contributions of Habibur Rahman Mollah, MP, as well as other deceased Awami League lawmakers.
Sheikh Hasina also remembered contributions of Prof Anisuzzaman and Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury to the field of education and the country’s development.
The premier prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved families.