News Desk: Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday
said the government has taken the right decisions to protect the lives and
livelihoods of people amid coronavirus pandemic.

“The government is going ahead with the right decisions to protect the
lives and livelihoods of labourers,” he said while speaking at a press
briefing at his secretariat office here.

Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, said the death rate
in COVID-19 is so far lower in Bangladesh than the European countries, the
USA and even neighboring India and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had taken various visionary steps before
coronavirus case was reported in the country, he said, adding “We all have to
work together to check the COVID-19 death tolls and protect people from
coronavirus infection.”

Coming down heavily on BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
for his remarks on the government decisions, Hasan said BNP leaders Fakhrul
and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi are making ridiculous comments on COVID-19.

“The BNP leaders talk like that they have more knowledge than the World
Health Organization (WHO),” he added.

The information minister said lockdown was eased in Spain and Italy where
around 200 people are dying of COVID-19 every day.

Although about 100 people are dying per day in India, the Indian
government relaxes lockdown there to protect the livelihoods of people, he
added.

He said the government has eased lockdown in Bangladesh too to protect the
livelihoods of people.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader earlier gave a symbolic statement
meaning that coronavirus must be tackled with united efforts from all, Hasan
said, but BNP leaders failed to understand the meaning of his speech.

“I hope the BNP leaders will understand the meaning of his (Quader’s)
speech,” he added. The AL joint general secretary said as associate forces of
the governments, political parties are working together in different
countries to protect people from coronavirus.

Even, he said, opposition party in India – Congress – came forward to help
the Indian government tackle coronavirus pandemic.

“But it is true that BNP did not do so…because they do not cherish such
culture but they believe in the politics of denial or the politics of
confrontation,” Hasan said.

Highlighting the government’s activities to tackle coronavirus pandemic,
he said over one third of the country’s population have already been brought
under the government’s assistance programme.

Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today announced a programme to
provide Taka 2,500 assistance in cash each for 50,000 families, which is a
groundbreaking initiative.