Tk 10,000 crore to combat COVID-19 pandemic

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DHAKA, June 11, 2020 (BSS) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today proposed to allocate Taka 10,000 crore to fulfil the emergency requirements to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have taken all out measures to improve the health sector. To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, we are implementing different programs worth Taka 5,500 crore under the Health Services Division,” he said while placing the proposed national budget for the fiscal 2020-21 in the parliament.

Kamal said the government will do whatever is required to be done to address the pandemic. “To fulfill emergency requirements, I propose to allocate Taka 10,000 crore as lumpsum,” he added.

Kamal also mentioned that as an emergency measure, two projects have been taken to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

“One is the ‘COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project’ at a cost of Taka 1,127 crore with financial assistance from the World Bank and the other one is the ‘COVID-19 Response Emergency Assistance’ at a cost of Taka 1,366 crore with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank,” he said.

The finance minister said implementation of these two projects has already begun and this will certainly enhance our capacity to fight COVID-19.

“Besides, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Government of Korea have made their commitments and projects are under preparation,” he added.

Mustafa Kamal informed that the provision of formal healthcare services and provision of Covid-19 related health services through mobile phones has been geared up.

“A screening app to trace the coronavirus infections and a national Covid-19 digital surveillance system with artificial intelligence to contain community infections of the virus and reduce risks has been developed,” he added.

He said twenty-nine guidelines and eleven public awareness raising brochures have also been developed.

At this critical juncture in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Kamal said, the government’s topmost priority is to save people from being infected by the virus.

“We sailed through many crises and disasters in our national lives using our collective strength. In 1971, we fought shoulder to shoulder against our enemy and finally achieved our victory. Imbued with this spirit, under the bold leadership of our Prime Minister, we as a nation, with the support and cooperation from all, will also emerge victorious in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, InshaAllah We shall have to overcome the situation with patience and bravery without being distracted and panicked at this critical moment,” he added.