Not stimulus, It’s loan package: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the Prime Minister’s stimulus package of Tk72,750 crore as a package of loan.

He further said she (PM) ignored those involved in the informal sector by not announcing any grant for them.

“We could have said the Prime Minister’s response positive had she taken initiatives to resolve the main problem. There’s nothing (incentive package) for the common people who belong to the informal sector, the starving, working ones and the farmers,” Fakhrul said.

The BNP leader further said, “It seems to me the stimulus package of Tk72,750 crore was given only to create a good impression among people with the size of the money. The fact is that the whole amount is nothing but loan. There's no grant from the government. It’s a loan package of Tk72,750.”

Fakhrul made the remarks through an online press briefing on the Prime Minister’s press conference.

Fakhrul said they urged the government to give a grant of Tk 15,000 crore for the poor and those hand to mouth. “We also called upon the government to raise allowances of the doctors and nurses and give them an incentive for the health sector. But the Prime Minister didn’t pay heed to it.”

He also said many poor people and day-labourers and those involved in the informal sector are passing through a critical time without any income and job. “Unfortunately, she (PM) didn’t say anything about the sector, let alone announcing any package for them.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced four new stimulus packages of Tk 67,750 crore to overcome the possible economic shock from the ongoing shutdown enforced due to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. With the previously announced Tk 5,000 crore stimulus package, the amount of the whole package now stands at Tk 72,750 crore.


Dhaka/Shaon/AKA