The global epidemic of coronavirus has already begun to affect the lives of ordinary people. People are not getting out of the house without emergency. In the meantime, the government has also announced general holidays. As a result, the roads in the capital are almost empty.
On the other hand, due to various rumours many families are stocking rice, pulses, oil, salt etc. The price of everything, including everyday commodities in the market, is increasing continuously. In this situation, the question of economic security of low-income, working people across country including Dhaka has come to the forefront.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bangladesh NAP) has urged the government to set up an emergency fund so that food security of the poor people whose income has stopped or reduced is not a problem. In a statement sent to media on Tuesday NAP Chairman Jebel Rahman Ghaani and Secretary General M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan expressed their concern.
They said that corona’s influence has already started to affect the country's economy. Apart from the scheduled salaried employees and grocery shop owners the income of others is declining. However, the informal service sector workers are most at risk. It is also important to take steps to protect the industrial sector, including the garment sector, which are thought to have the most impact.
Various reports say workers in the readymade garment sector are already at risk of losing their jobs. In this situation, the government should identify the most vulnerable and take initiative to assist them.
The leader added that in the state of the economy at the time of the corona epidemic, emergency funds should be provided for small and medium enterprises which consist almost 95 percent of our total industries. The small business owners are facing losses at this moment, the impact of which will be visible soon enough.
The NAP leaders said the current global equilibrium may also change in this time of possible global recession. Whatever the situation, it is certain that in such a crisis, in all countries, the lowest income people and the poorest people will be affected first. Bangladesh is not an exception in that case rather the risk is graver here. In order to cope up with the situation, the government has to take urgent steps on an urgent basis to protect the low income people, including all concerned.
At the same time, the leaders said that the government should instruct the NGOs to refrain from collecting small loan settlement instalments during this disaster.
