An amendment to the list of poor people for getting cash aid from the government through mobile financial services is going on, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman has said.
"The Prime Minister's Office [PMO] and ICT Division are working on the matter. Within a day or two the work will be completed," he told Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
On May 14, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the disbursement of Tk1,250 crore in cash assistance for five million poor families hit hard by the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. Each family will get Tk2,500.
But the initiative has been marred with irregularities.
In Habiganj, the same mobile number was used beside the name of 200 people. Different media outlets reported on it fearing corruption. A wave of criticism was also seen on social media.
Enamur Rahman said: "All the people did not provide their mobile numbers. Without any mobile number, the software was not accepting the data submission.
"That is why, officials submitted the same mobile number for different people in different areas. They have done this for the sake of the recipients. There is no link with corruption in this regard."
The state minister said: “Beneficiaries, without mobile phones, will receive the cash assistance through bank accounts. And all the disbursement will be completed before Eid-ul Fitr.”
