It needs no mentioning that the lockdowns due to constant waves of Covid-19 has hit the people of the country hard. A large number of people have lost their jobs during the pandemic. According to a survey conducted by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Oxfam in Bangladesh, 61.57 percent people had lost their jobs during the March-April period last year, due to the pandemic.
Experts opine that, to cope with the current situation, it is vital to recognise the considerable degree of uncertainty about the pandemic and carry out economic activities within constraints. Alongside cash aid, the government has taken various initiatives to help the marginal and other jobless people. The government has to make sure that its food and financial assistance must reach all in need.
The government has to make sure
that its food and financial assistance
must reach all in need
Reportedly, the number of middle-class in Bangladesh is about 4 crores. However, a significant portion of them is the lower middle class. Lower middle class families with meagre income are badly hit by the pandemic but the problem is not getting due attention because of lopsided priorities. Therefore, a list of the needy people including the middle-class should be drawn and necessary measures should be taken so that government's food and financial assistance reach them without any hindrance.
Policies focused on growth only are not sufficient enough to reconstruct the economy for our country rather we need to adopt employment-oriented policies so that the concerning surge in poverty and inequality level decreases.
