Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Thursday criticised the rich section of people for not extending their helping hand to the people hit hard by the coronavirus fallout, saying they have become pauper by siphoning money aboard.

BNP on Thursday alleged that the government has taken too many steps to protect the rich from coronavirus fallout ignoring the sufferings of the poor and destitute.

The country’s accumulator battery industries sought a financial help of Tk 2,000 crore from the government to overcome the adverse impact of coronavirus outbreak on the sector.

The government-declared shutdown to contain transmission of coronavirus disrupted the supply chain and brought economic activities to a grinding halt, hitting the low-income group and small-scale farmers the hardest.

Bangladesh and other South Asian countries must ramp up action to curb the health emergency, protect their people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and set the stage now for fast economic recovery, the World Bank said in its twice-a-year-regional update on Sunday.

Over 2,000 workers of Benapole Land Port have been jobless for nine days as the export-import activities through the port remained suspended since March 24 in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.   Besides, several hundred NGO workers who are dependent on the port and customs house here are going through a tough time due to the ongoing shutdown across the country.   Traders find it convenient for exporting and importing goods through the land port due to better communications system with neighbouring India.   Around 400 trucks carrying goods from India enter Bangladesh while around 200 go to the neighbouring country every day.   Around 2,000 workers are engaged at the port. Besides, several hundred NGO workers work at the port and customs house to earn their livelihoods.   The government earns at least Tk 20 crore as revenue from the port each day. But the shutdown has halted the revenue flow and left the workers without any job.  

A pilot project to take overhead cables underground in Dhanmondi area of the capital faces delay due to the outbreak of deadly coronavirus in China.