Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the donations through videoconferencing from her official residence Ganobhaban in the evening.
Representatives of these organisations handed over cheques of donations to PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The government and public agencies that made donations are Railways, Shipping, Fisheries and Livestock, Industries, Water Resources, Land, and Textiles and Jute ministries, Power Division, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Coat Guard, Mongla Port Authority, Chittagong Port Authority, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), Department of Prisons, Public Works Department, Agrani Bank, state-owned banks, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (Bepza), Chittagong University, Rajshahi University and Titumir College.
The private organisaitons include Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), Meghna Group, United Group, Momen Group, Jamuna Group, Rupayan Group, Fresh Group, City Group and PHP Family.
The rest private organisations are Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), Krishibid Institution of Bangladesh (KIB), Baraka Patenga Power Ltd, Midland Power Ltd, Marico Bangladesh Ltd, IDCOL PO Forum Ltd, Dream Holiday Park in Narsingdi, Diamond World, Madhabdi Dying Ltd, KCJ and Associates Ltd, Western Engineering, INTRACO, Capitech Asset Management Ltd, Sotsango Bangladesh, BAIRA, Basic Builders Ltd, AM Group and Water Transport Cell.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister extended her sincere thanks to the organisations for coming up with the helping hands in this critical time of the nation.
Noting that the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic has a worldwide adverse impact, she said Bangladesh has so far been able to keep the coronavirus under control. “I believe if we all follow the health guidelines properly, we’ll be able to overcome this situation,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said now many people, including day-labourers and small traders, are suffering a lot because of the situation caused by the coronavirus in the country.
The government will try to reach food to the doorsteps of the people in need, she added.
Sheikh Hasina urged all, including the affluent section of the society, her party leaders and activists, and the administration also to find out and stand by the people who suffer but cannot resort to begging due to their social dignity as such people are also large in number in the country.