The Department of Social Services has signed an agreement with mobile financial services provider (MFS) Nagad to disburse 75 percent of the total allowance of the government's social net programme. A tripartite agreement was signed at the Ministry of Social Welfare Thursday. According to the agreement, Nagad will distribute 75 percent of the total allowances stated by the government-to-person system under the social safety net programme. Read: Islami Bank Securities holds 12th AGM Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, director general of the Department of Social Services, Md Siraz Uddin, director general of the Department of Posts, and Md Shafayet Alam, executive director of Nagad, signed the agreement. Last year, the Department of Social Services disbursed an allowance to 76 lakh and 13,000 recipients out of 88 lakh and 50,000 beneficiaries through Nagad and another MFS. This time, the allowance will be distributed in the same manner. The elderly, widowed, impoverished disabled people and disabled students will continue to receive the stipend through Nagad. Read: Biman hopes to launch regular Dhaka-Toronto commercial flights from June Earlier, Nagad disbursed funds to 75 percent of all beneficiaries under these four programmes. Third gender people and the Bede community will also receive the allowances in this phase.

The 109th International Labour Conference (ILC) has adopted a resolution with a call for timely, affordable and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for all people in all countries for the revitalization of the global economy and the world of work. It also called for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read:Record high 82 million-plus people displaced despite Covid: UN The ‘global call to action’ was adopted after an intense negotiation in the Covid Response Committee of the ILC. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Md Mustafizur Rahman chaired the Committee. Bangladesh also led the Asia and Pacific Group in the negotiation as the coordinator and stressed the need for addressing the specific challenges of the region. Read:Dhaka seeks incentive-based package for sustainable graduation of LDCs The resolution called for ensuring access to vaccines and personal protection equipment for workers, particularly to reduce the health risk of the health workers as well as salaries and allowances of all workers during the pandemic. It also urged the International Labour Organization to play a more effective role in accelerating the support to States to address the increasing inequalities between the developed and the developing countries. Read:Bangladesh elected FAO Council member The resolution emphasized the expansion of the social safety net for recovery from the pandemic with a special focus on women, older persons and migrants.  At the same time, it underscored the need for a gender-balanced, sustainable and people-centred post-pandemic recovery plan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged everyone to follow health guidelines and celebrate Pahela Boishakh at home when the nation enters a strict weeklong lockdown to contain the upsurge of coronavirus transmission. "We have to remember that the lives of the people come first. If (we) survive, we’ll be able to rearrange everything," she said while addressing the nation on the eve of Bengali New Year, Pahela Boishakh. State-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) simultaneously broadcasted her address. Private television channels and radio stations also aired the Prime Minister’s speech. She also urged the countrymen not to be panicked at the second wave of covid-19 and assured that her government is always with them. She asked authorities concerned to take measures to provide necessary assistance to the poor and low-income people. In her roughly 13-minute speech, the Prime Minister said that the government has imposed some restrictions on the movement of people due to the second wave of coronavirus last week. She said the rise in cases compelled the government to take some tough measures following the advice of public health experts. The prime minister acknowledged that the strict measures could cause some issues for the livelihoods of many people. She reminded everyone that protecting the people's lives was the top priority. Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 69 more die, 6,028 infected Sheikh Hasina mentioned that last year everyone had to face various types of adverse situations after coronavirus hit. "As quarantine is one of the ways to resist this pandemic, for that we’ve to take some steps that had an impact on people's lives and livelihoods," she said. The four principles She said that last year the government imposed 62 days of general holiday. It is yet to open educational institutions. The Prime Minister said the situation was not unique to Bangladesh. “Such steps are being taken wherever the impact of this deadly virus is intensifying," she said. Along with saving people's lives, the Prime Minister said the government is keeping watch so that country's economy, lives and livelihoods of the people do not fall apart. “With cooperation from all we have taken some steps, as a result, last year we were able to face the coronavirus pandemic successfully,” she said. She said the government fixed four key activities last year to face the possible adverse impact of coronavirus. They were—increasing public expenditure prioritising employment generation; formulating stimulus package for reviving economic activities, keeping labours and workers in their jobs and keeping the competitiveness of the entrepreneurs. The other two are— expanding social safety net programmes for fulfilling the basic needs of people living under the poverty line, non-institutionally engaged and day labourers, and increasing money supply to overcome the adverse impact on the economy in a way there will be no inflation. “Our activities are continuing based on these four principles. We’ve already announced 23 stimulus packages of Tk 1,24,053 crore,” she said. Also read: Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health ‘Don’t worry’ She also said that some 2.5 crore people have been brought under various government assistance programme apart from taking steps for uninterrupted production in mills and factories and increasing agricultural production. “There’s no need to be worried, the government is always beside you. I’ve taken steps for the poor and lower-income group after the second wave hit,” she said. In this regard, she said that the government allocated Tk 807.65 crore for employment generation in the rural areas and more than Tk 672 crore for Holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. This will benefit 1,24,42,000 lower income group families. 5.6mln people received first dose Talking about the vaccine of coronavirus, Sheikh Hasina said that scientists have already invented some vaccines, Oxford-AstraZeneca is one of them. She also said that it was a matter of good luck that Bangladesh has been able to bring a sizeable number of doses at the beginning of the vaccine production. “In the meantime, more than 56 lakh people have been taken the first dose of the vaccine. Those who’ve taken the first dose are now taking the second dose. Gradually, we’ll bring everyone under the vaccine programme and we’ve the preparations,” she said. But she mentioned that the health experts said that there is no assurance that one will be fully protected from the virus after receiving the vaccine. “So, after taking the vaccine, we’ll have to maintain health guidelines too,” she said. Also read: Bangladesh begins second phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive Covid treatment facilities being increased The Prime Minister said that the area of coronavirus patient treatment has been further expanded in all districts including Dhaka. In the meantime, steps have been taken for uninterrupted oxygen supply in public specialised hospitals. Existing ICU facilities are being increased. She urged everyone to be careful and ensure protection for themselves, family members and neighbours. “So, gatherings have to be avoided and everyone should wear a mask when going outside. After returning home, one should get cleaned and take hot water vapour,” she said. “If everyone follows health guidelines, it’ll be possible to keep the pandemic under control, Inshallah,” she said. ‘Celebrate Pahela Boishakh digitally’ She also mentioned that era after era pandemic, storms, cyclones and calamities come, mankind has to survive facing all these. “The path of life is not smooth. The path may be tough enough [but] we’ve to make our advancement conquering that,” she said. Quoting some lines of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the Prime Minister said that Bangalis are the victorious nation and they are surviving facing various adversities. Also read: Bangladesh’s complete lockdown set to begin on Apr 14; notification issued “Inshallah, we’ll face this coronavirus pandemic. In the new year our prayer to the Almighty is to save the world from this pandemic,” she said. The Prime Minister greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Bengali New Year and Holy Ramadan that fell on the same day this year. She also asked all to stay home. “Like the previous year, Bangalis will have to celebrate Pahela Boishakh festival through digital medium remaining at home,” she said.

Nagad, the fastest growing digital financial service of the country, and another mobile financial service provider bKash will disburse government’s allowances under various social safety net programmes among 76.13 lakh beneficiaries out of a total of 88.50 lakh. 

Allowances from the Ministry of Social Welfare under the Social Safety Net Program of the government will now easily reach the beneficiaries through bKash by G2P (Government to Person) system.

Speakers at a webinar in the capital on Sunday stressed the need for expanding the social safety net for the elderly people and enactment of a law to ensure their rights.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin on Saturday said that the government will gradually bring all underprivileged and needy people under the ambit of the social security net or nets.

The government has allocated Tk 95,574 crore for programmes under the social safety net in the proposed national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal, with a proposal to expand the coverage of some programmes to alleviate the plight of the poor amid the situation arising out of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said he has brought about a structural change in this year’s budget in terms of setting priorities of the government by slightly deviating from traditional budget due to the coronavirus and its impact.

The government is going to expand the purview of schemes forming the  social safety net, aiming to bring close to 10 million (1 crore) citizens overall under its coverage in the coming budget for 2020-21 fiscal that will most likely contain the aftermath of the coronavirus epidemic in Bangladesh.    According to the sources, the allocation in this sector would be increased by Tk 1633 crore while the number of the beneficiaries will increase to 98 lakh (9.8 million) from existing 81 lakh.   In the coming budget the allocation will be Tk 76,000 crore while the amount is Tk 74,367 crore in the outgoing budget.   Finance Ministry sources said that generally each year the government does expand the number of beneficiaries of various social safety net programmes at ten percent rate.