Four main principles adopted to combat impacts of Covid-19 on economy: PM

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government has adopted four main principles to combat the possible adverse impacts of coronavirus on the economy.

These are: (1) Increasing government’s expenditure: Giving priority to ‘job creation’ in the field of government expenditure;

(2) Formulating financial assistance packages: Revival of economic activities, continuation of jobs for employees and workers, and retaining the entrepreneurs’ ability of competition;

(3) Enhancing the coverage of social safety net: Increasing the coverage of existing social safety net to meet the basic needs of the common people living under the poverty line, day-laborers and the people engaged in informal activities;

(4) Increasing the money supply: To overcome the adverse effects of the economy, the money supply should be increased in such a way that inflation does not occur.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening on the eve of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year, and a day before a strict lockdown, the Prime Minister made a clarion call asking all to strictly follow health guideline to face the COVID-19 pandemic’s ongoing second wave.

The Prime Minister assured the countrymen that all the targeted people would be brought under the vaccination programme as the scientists by now developed several types of vaccine including that of Oxford-AstraZeneca to fight the Covid-19.

“We will vaccinate all the people in phases as we have the preparation,” she said adding that by now the government procured a significant number of inoculate doses since its invention.

Sheikh Hasina said as many as 56 lakh people have received the first dose of the vaccine while the target people started receiving the second doses as well.

She said her government issued an 18-point directive to fight the Covid-19, adding, “InshaAllah, we will definitely be able to control the coronavirus if we maintain the health guidelines.”

In this regard, the premier acknowledged that the restrictions could affect livelihoods of many people but said “we all have to keep in mind — human life is above everything.”

“Avoid crowd, use masks whenever you go outdoors and get cleaned on your return home and inhale hot water vapour,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the government is implementing its programmes in line with the four principles and has already announced a total of 23 stimulus packages worth about Tk 1 lakh 24 thousand 53 crore alongside taking initiative of maintaining uninterrupted output in the factories and boosting agriculture production.

She referred to the government efforts has allocated cash aid to over 1.25 crore poor families after the second wave of COVID-19 hit Bangladesh.

“You don’t need to be anxious. The government is always by your side,” she remarked.

The lockdown was needed to save lives, she said, citing that many other countries have also taken the similar measures.

“You’ve seen that the infections are proving very difficult to contain. So, we have had to take some strict measures following the advice of public health experts.

“I know it will disrupt livelihoods of many. But we must remember that human lives come first. We will be able to regain everything if we live,” she said.