Ensure relief to actual virus-hit people: Mayor

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has emphasised reaching out the actual victims of coronavirus fallout with relief materials as he advocated for coupling up the banks with the mobile financial service providers.      

"I ask the donors to explore whether they also can connect banks along with the mobile financial service providers to distribute the cash aid," the DSCC mayor told the inauguration of a relief distribution programme at the Nagar Bhaban in the capital Monday.      

The mayor said many people from the districts visit the capital regularly, and relying solely on the mobile banking for relief distribution may prompt distribution anomalies.        

The mayor commented that the targeted group of the cash aid -- slum dwellers and marginalised groups -- usually have at least one bank account.

"If they [donors] conduct the distributions only through the mobile financial services, the cash could end up in hands of rootless people instead of the actual victims," he added.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and German Red Cross jointly initiated the humanitarian aid distribution.

Under this relief programme, a total of 12,000 families in Dhaka will receive Tk5,000 each. Besides, the frontline Covid-19 fighters will get personal safety equipment under it.

The organisers will also distribute face masks at public places to tackle the virus infection. 

Among others, Dr Habibe Millat MP, vice president of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Feroz Salahuddin, its general secretary, Gourab Roy, head of German Red Corss, Bangladesh, were present on the occasion.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Fahrenholtz joined the event virtually.