PM to inaugurate ‘Eid gift’ distribution on 2 May

The distribution of Tk2,500 as Eid gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the Covid-19-affected low-income workers of informal sectors and the poor will start on 2 May.
 
The prime minister will inaugurate the distribution activity.
 
Last year, during the general holiday, the government took an initiative to provide assistance to 50 lakhs unemployed poor Tk2,500 each. However, due to irregularities in compiling the list of the poor, it was possible to disburse the money to about 35 lakh families.
 
Those who received assistance last year will receive it again.
 
According to the Bangladesh Bank, out of the 35 lakh poor, about four lakh poor could not withdraw their assistance due to inactive PIN of Mobile Financial Services, amounting to more than Tk101 crore. 
 
The procedures will be followed this time too although there are doubts about whether they will be able to avail on it.
 
Last year, the government took up an initiative to provide cash assistance to 50 lakh poor families through MSF providers Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash. 
 
With the closure of SureCash, the remaining three operators will distribute this year's cash incentive to 33,34,911 households. The distribution of the money will be completed to all of the beneficiaries ahead of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, officials concerned said.
 
They further added that the families who were given assistance through Nagad, bKash and rocket last year will get this year's incentive through the same operator. However, the families who received assistance through SureCash last time will get the money from one of the three other operators this year.
 
Like last time, Nagad – the digital financial service of Bangladesh Post Office, will distribute the lion's share of 44.83% of the prime minister's Eid gift for poor families. The operator will distribute the PM's Eid gift money to 44.83% of the total beneficiaries. Meanwhile, 31.57% of the beneficiaries will receive cash assistance through bKash and 23% others through Rocket.
 
That is, Nagad will distribute cash among 14,96,583 families, bKash among 10,54,233 families and Rocket will distribute the money among 7,88,095 families.
 
Last year, 12.90 lakh households received the prime minister's Eid gift through Nagad, while 9.30 lakh others received it through bKash, 7.05 lakh through Rocket and 4.80 lakh beneficiaries received the money through SureCash.
 
Tanvir A Mishuk, managing director of Nagad, told The Business Standard, "We promise that the government's allocation will be delivered to all the beneficiaries following the list given by the administration most transparently in compliance with all the rules and guidelines."