Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday announced a new stimulus package to waive Taka 2000 crore bank interest of the people affected badly by the nationwide shutdown enforced to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports BSS.
“Today, we’re declaring a new incentive package which is the 19th. Under the package, the borrowers need not to repay Taka 2000 crore interest of the credits which they took from the banks for doing business,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina added: “The government will provide the interest amounting to Tk 2000 crore to the banks as a subsidy and it will directly benefit nearly 1.38 crore loan recipients.”
The premier made the announcement while formally publishing the SSC and other equivalent exam results through a videoconference from her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.
She said the government earlier suspended the payment of interest of the loans for two months which the people took from the (commercial) banks for business purpose.
“The total amount of that interest now stands at Tk 16,549 crore and of the money, the government will give Tk 2000 crore to the (commercial) banks as a subsidy and the loan borrowers don’t need to pay it … we’re freeing them from it (interest),” she said.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the borrowers will pay the rest of the interest in 12-month installments.
“The government has made this arrangement for the benefit of the people as their trade and commerce remained halted for over two months due to coronavirus outbreak,” she said.
“We’ve taken these measures so that the people are not plagued with the burden of the loans,” she added.
The premier said with the announcement of this new incentive package of Tk 2000 crore, the total amount of 19 stimulus packages has stood at Tk 1,03,117 crore (equivalent to US Dollar 12.13 billion) which is 3.7 percent of total GDP.
“I don’t know whether any other country of the world gave such facilities. But we’re giving,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has announced special stimulus packages for all sections of the people in view of the COVID-19.
“We’ve given incentive of Taka 5000 crore to farmers at low interest rate to offset the agricultural fallout of the coronavirus,” she said.
The premier mentioned that the government declared separate stimulus packages for the big, medium and small industries including cottage industries so that they can overcome the losses caused by the pandemic.
“Even, we’ve provided special stimulus package for those who do small business and run shops by taking microcredit,” she said.
The prime minister said the government has taken many steps to mitigate the plight of the people affected due to COVID-19 outbreak. “Through it (pandemic) will put pressure on the national budget, to be placed on June 11, we’ve completed the work on framing the budget,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is reopening offices, trade and commerce and shops gradually to keep operative the wheels of the economy.
“The ways of the people’s income have almost stopped. Though we’re helping them, the people, particularly low-income group, are suffering a lot in the current situation,” she said.
The prime minister said COVID-19 is such a virus which is not seen with bare eyes. “It has such a power which has stirred the entire world and stopped the wheels of economy and we’re moving in such a situation. But whatever situation arises, we’ve to advance by combating those,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said: “It’s necessary to protect ourselves. Like that we’ve to pay attention so that the wheels of the economy continue to run.”
The prime minister said the leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies including Chhatra League, Krishak League helped the farmers in harvesting paddy following her directives.
“There will be no crisis of food in the country and we could ensure food security In-sha Allah,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is extending support to all in this perilous time and the administrative officials, the members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies and the (ruling) party men are performing their respective responsibilities. “It’s an unprecedented scene,” she said.
The prime minister said the entire nation, being united, has stood beside the vulnerable people with whatever strength the people have. “For this, I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to all,” she said.
Reopening of educational institutions:
Sheikh Hasina said that the educational institutions wouldn’t open at the moment as her government doesn’t want to put the students at the risk of being infected by the COVID-19 as they are the future of the country.
“We might not open the educational institutions right now as we want to proceed to this end in phases to protect the students from being infected with the coronavirus,” she said.
The premier said that the government would open the educational institutions gradually only when the coronavirus situation would improve.
She greeted the students who come out successfully in the SSC and equivalent examinations and requested those who failed in the exams to take preparations again with patience and hard work to pass the next exams.
Elaborating her government’s various steps for development of education, the premier has announced to continue the stipend and scholarship programmes up to higher education and the distribution of text books free of cost no matter however the country’s economy is affected by the COVID-19.
She asked the students to pay more attention to study and follow the classes which being held through the Sangsad TV.
Expressing the hope of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic in unison, Sheikh Hasina said, “We’ve already faced the cyclone (Amphan) amid the coronavirus pandemic with courage and unity and we have to work together what we are doing right now to face any situation.”
Regarding relaxation of the nationwide shutdown, the prime minister said everything was closed for a long time, but a country could not run in such a way. “The other countries of the world have been opening everything including their economy and we’re going to adopt that policy.”
Sheikh Hasina said her government has decided to ease the shutdown as the people have been facing hardship though the government is making efforts to mitigate their sufferings by giving relief and financial assistance to them.
Describing the present situation as a crisis for the entire world, she stressed the need for having self-confidence to overcome the situation, saying, “Self-confidence is the key to facing any situation.”
“The coronavirus is only a problem of Bangladesh but also of the whole world. Everything, including trade and commerce and education, has halted at this moment. We’ve to go through in such a situation and the situation is same for the developed and developing nations,” she continued.
Regarding taking protective measures for health amid the relaxation of shutdown, the prime minister said, “We’ve to keep one thing in mind – that is protection of your health. All have to maintain the health code properly to protect yourself, family and thus all.”
The prime minister also illustrated her government’s various initiatives to contain the disease and said that the government has been able to control the COVID-19 death and infection rates due to their timely measures since the beginning of the outbreak of the lethal virus.
Earlier, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni handed over a summary of the exam results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through online from her secretariat office. Deputy Minister for Education Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel was present on the occasion.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, PMO Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Mian and PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present at the Ganabhaban, while Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Md. Mahbub Hossain moderated the results handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Education.