Poor people took to the streets of Narayanganj, defying government directives of maintaining social distancing and avoiding public gatherings, demanding aid amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
They brought out a procession in the district’s Kashipur union parishad (UP) on Wednesday, demanding aid as the government has again extended the ongoing “holiday” to fight coronavirus.
The district was put under lockdown on Tuesday as scores tested positive for coronavirus and multiple casualties were reported from the area.
Protestors claimed that for the last few days, some individuals on behalf of local public representatives, collected photocopies of their national ID cards (NID) supposedly for the purpose of distributing relief.
However, on Wednesday morning, the NID photocopies were returned but no aid was given, which is why the locals demonstrated, they added.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Baset Mollah, a local of the area, said: “We have no income, no food as we are out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. Our UP members and the chairman took our NIDs but didn’t provide us with food. They didn’t even come to check whether we are still alive or dead.
“And they dared to have us locked down in our homes.”
Contacted, Md Bahauddin, secretary of Kashipur UP, said: “We provided a list of 12,000 families for aid. Instead, we received food for only 1,500 families. We will get aid for another 500 families by Friday or Saturday and will distribute it.
“We have nothing to do here as the government is sending food assistance like this.”
Echoing the same, M Saifullah Badal, chairman of Kashipur UP, said: “We didn’t receive the amount of aid that we asked for. We have notified the authorities concerned regarding the issue. They have assured us that this shortage will soon be addressed.
“I can only say that no family will be deprived of government aid.”
Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj district, said: “All will receive assistance from us. We will provide aid to the doorsteps of those who have been listed.”
The Bangladesh authorities till Wednesday detected 218 Covid-19 patients.
Covid-19 has so far led to the deaths of over 83,000 people in more than 200 countries and territories, including 20 in Bangladesh.
