Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday allocated Tk 10.50 crore for district deputy commissioners to provide assistance to the poor, distressed and insolvent people who were affected due to the ongoing lockdown.

"The assistance has been provided from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund," said PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.

He said the DCs would provide assistance after preparing lists of the poor, distressed and insolvent people who were affected most by the ongoing lockdown.

The amount of the allotted money will vary depending on the number of poor, distressed and insolvent people in particular districts.

Ihsanul also said all DCs of 64 districts would get the share of the allotted money.

On April 18, the PM declared that the government would provide financial assistance to some 36 lakh families who were hit hard by the pandemic and recent natural disasters.

The families include 35 lakh low-income ones hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the rest one lakh are farmers affected by recent natural disasters.

An amount of Tk 2,500 will be provided as cash support to 35 lakh families, while Tk 5,000 each will be given to one lakh families of farmers.

The government will spend Tk 930 crore to disburse cash among 36 lakh families.

Out of 30,94,249 hectares of cropland in 36 districts, crop on 10,301 hectares was completely destroyed, while crop on 59,327 hectares was partially damaged due to strong winds, hailstorms and cyclones on April 4. Some 100,000 farmers were directly affected due to the recent disaster, according to the data of the Department of Agricultural Extension.

In the wake of the second wave of coronavirus, the government has enforced lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus.

PM'S EID GIFT FOR OVER 1M FAMILIES

bKash, a mobile money platform, will distribute the cash aid of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10,50,000 low-income families affected by Covid-19.

In a unique initiative of the PM to stand by families who have lost their livelihood, financial aid of Tk 2,500 will be provided to each of them before Eid, bKash said in a media release yesterday.

The money is being disbursed digitally with transparency, swiftness and security to the real victims through verification of NID cards, it said.

During the month of Ramadan and the Eid festival, this money will bring relief to the families and help them greatly in case of emergency, bKash said.

The beneficiary will not need to bear any Cash Out charge.

The government will pay Tk 15 from the total Cash Out charge, while the remaining Tk 31.25 will be borne by bKash.

Last year, bKash successfully distributed the cash aid of the PM to nearly 1 million families.