B’desh announces USD 8.6 bln stimulus package to mitigate COVID-19 impact

Dhaka: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday announced an economic stimulus package of 727.50 billion taka (about 8.57 billion U.S. dollars) to support the economy which is reeling under the adverse impact of the  COVID-19 pandemic.

In her televised speech, PM Hasina acknowledged that the increase in COVID-19 cases could negatively impact the country’s growth prospects.

Xinhua quoted her saying that the country’s capital market, remittance income and low-income groups are already feeling the pinch of COVID-19. She announced that low-interest loans would be made available for small and medium enterprises.

Bangladesh had on Saturday extended the shutdown of public transport to April 11 in its effort to check the spread of the virus.

Initially the 10-day shutdown of public transport was enforced from March 26 to April 4. (UNI)