United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday provided an Eid gift of Tk 5,000 to each cleaner employed by the country’s 12 city corporations. He handed over cheques to the Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation and administrators of other city corporations at his office at the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat at 3:30 pm, Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon told UNB. “The Prime Minister handed over cheques of Tk5,000  to each cleaner employed by the country’s 12 city corporations through the respective mayors and administrators,” he said. Rumon said this financial support has been given to show respect and solidarity with sanitation workers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. “Sanitation workers play a vital role in keeping the country’s cities clean and livable. This initiative recognises their tireless efforts.” He expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s support will bring extra joy to the families of the cleaners this Eid. Rumon also said the government will continue to carry out various humanitarian and welfare initiatives for all urban service workers in the future. Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and State Minister Mir Shah Alam, Chattogram City Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, along with administrators of 11 other city corporations, were present at the cheque handover ceremony.  

Nagad, the mobile financial service arm of Postal Department, has started disbursing the Prime Minister's financial assistance to 14.97 lakh families who lost their livelihood amid the Covid-19 crisis as Eid gift.Each family listed by the government will receive Tk 2,500 with the cash-out charge under the G2P process. Nagad will complete the disbursement before Eid, according to a press release.On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the programme from Ganobhaban, her official residence, by sending financial assistance to 15 families in Chattogram, Bhola and Jaipurhat. Also read: 86,452 primary students get stipend, allowance through Nagad in phase 1 The programme was conducted via video conferencing where deputy commissioners of the concerned districts participated along with the beneficiaries. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus hosted the event.In the current phase, the Prime Minister is providing financial assistance to 33.39 lakh beneficiaries with the help of two other MFS providers beside Nagad. The state carrier will disburse 45 percent of the total funds of this phase while rest of the amount will be disbursed by the two other MFS providers. On the opening day, around 11,000 beneficiaries received funds through their Nagad account.Beneficiaries do not have to bear any additional cost for cash out since the government is paying the charge. However, Nagad users will get the full cash out amount which is Tk 37.35.Tanvir A Mishuk, managing director of Nagad, thanked the Prime Minister for trusting Nagad once again with the task of distributing the largest portion of the fund.“We promise that the assistance will be delivered to all beneficiaries in the list given by the government in the most transparent manner. Nagad always operates in accordance with the rules of Bangladesh Bank and will continue to maintain that,” Mishuk said. Also read: Three clients joining Nagad network each secondLast year before Eid the Prime Minister directed to distribute Tk 2,500 government assistance to each family and at that time Nagad also got the biggest chunk of 17 lakh beneficiaries for allocation.Currently there are 4.1 crore Nagad users and daily transactions crossed to Tk 400 crore on daily basis.

Bangladesh pace-bowler Rubel Hossain extended helping hand to the poor people of his own district Bagerhat. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have been left stranded in his district.