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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will announce the government’s work plan at a press conference on Sunday to overcome the possible impacts of the coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak on the economy.
The press conference will be held at 10:00am at the prime minister’s official residence Ganobhaban in the capital, said PM's Press Sectary Ihsanul Karim.
Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast the press conference live, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting in this connection was held at Ganobhaban on Thursday evening with Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir, Finance Ministry Senior Secretary Abdur Rouf, and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the meeting.
While addressing the nation on March 25 on the occasion of the Independence and National Day 2020, the Prime Minister announced a stimulus package of Tk 50.00 billion for export-oriented industries to fight the adverse impacts of coronavirus on the country's economy. This money will be used for providing the salaries and wages of workers and employees only.
Besides, she said, the Bangladesh Bank has already taken some pro-business steps. The central bank will not announce any customer as loan defaulter till June next.
Hasina mentioned that the timeframe for achieving export earnings has been increased to six months from the existing two months. Similarly, meeting import expenses has been increased to six months from four months.
The Prime Minister said the limit of mobile banking has been increased while the payment of power, water and gas bills have been extended to June without any fine or surcharge and the payment of instalment of the NGOs has been suspended.
The government on March 23 declared general holidays from March 26 to April 4, aiming to prevent the transmission of deadly coronavirus. Later it was extended to April 11. But kitchen markets, food shops, pharmacies, hospitals and all emergency services are remained out of the purview of the general holidays.