Back stimulus packages for small traders
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked private banks to supplement the government's credit programme for small traders under its stimulus packages announced at offsetting the Covid-19's fallouts.
"The state-owned banks have been extending support to the credit programme," she said.
"In this case, if the private banks come forward, there is no doubt that they can be ultimately benefited once the trade and commerce starts completely swing after the present Covid-19 situation," she said.
Hasina said this while obtaining donations almost through a videoconference from her official Gono Bhaban residence.
Some 35 commercial banks beneath the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) provided 25.95 lakh blankets for the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund to be able to aid the financially insolvent through the upcoming winter season.
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Dr Ahmad Kaikaus received the donations. Hasina said there is a programme on monetary support for small traders at low interest.
"However, I think that the private banks must be more sincere to the end…as you always stand next to the people and in this case you'll also need to stand beside them," she said.
The premier said the association always stood next to the persons when any disaster struck the united states.
Hasina said there could be more natural disasters in the united states during the winter.
Expressing happiness over the donation, the prime minister said persons would be immensely benefitted from it.
"I extend my sincere thanks to the BAB for this," she said.
Mentioning that the whole world, including Bangladesh, is witnessing a stalemate in all respects as a result of coronavirus, Hasina praised Bangladeshis for his or her courage and mental strength in facing the problem.
She also stressed the necessity for taking cautionary measures in Bangladesh.
She said everyone should stay alert in order that another wave of infections usually do not leave an adverse impact on the country's economy and hamper the livelihoods of people along with bring the wheels of economy to a halt.
Hasina said the federal government was setting up 100 economic zones across the country and the ones provided scopes for massive investments.
Noting that the country's forex reserve has ended $40 billion, she said the federal government includes a target to boost the reserve to $50 billion during the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
She said the federal government has taken up an idea to carry out some development works together with its own finance and without borrowing anything from external sources.
"We are able to do many development works ourselves without borrowing from others. Or we can do the works together with financing from our banks…We've also taken measures to accomplish at least some works together with our own finance. You should understand the details soon," she said.
Noting that the government's goal is that no persons will stay homeless and landless in the united states in the Mujib Borsho, the prime minister asked the BAB representatives to greatly help the homeless and landless persons within their respective areas by giving houses to them.
"If there are any homeless or landless persons in your areas, you can provide them some houses," she said, adding that the federal government has been providing houses to the homeless and landless families.
"There will be no more poverty inside our country, if most of us interact and work inside our own areas," she continued.
Hasina said the federal government has brought down the poverty rate to 20 % in the country, however the economic slowdown caused by Covid-19 hampered the pace of the poverty alleviation.
She, however, hoped that the federal government can make a poverty and hunger-free Bangladesh and present the people a beautiful life.
Along with ensuring food security, the government's goal is to remove malnutrition, increase employment and revive the rural economy, added the premier.
"We have to raise the purchasing power and financial capacity of the people of the united states, then the market for our products will maintain our country," she said.
