Covid-19: Govt allocates Tk9cr in funds, 31,000 tons rice for poor

The government has so far allocated Tk9 crore in cash and 31,000 tons of rice for the low-income groups across the country as they remain without work following the restrictive measures taken to battle the coronavirus.

They are being provided with the assistance through the district and upazila administrations, said a Press Information Department (PID) handout on Monday.

Both the financial and food assistance were allocated through the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

According to the statistics of the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre, the government has thus far allocated Tk88,972,264 and 31,217 tons of rice for people of low-income group in 64 districts, said the PID handout.

In a desperate attempt to curb the coronavirus in the country, the government declared a 10-day general holiday from March 26 until April 4.

Besides, bus, train, launch, and air services were suspended and markets and shopping malls were shut down apart from the closure of all educational institutions with a message to all – stay home.

Bangladesh has so far reported five deaths from the coronavirus. Besides, 25 patients are currently under treatment in the country while 19 others have already made recovery.