"Give me some money for purchasing rice and potato. I don't have anything to cook at my home today," Nilufar, a 35-year-old woman who worked at a garment factory in Dhaka, said on Sunday.
When asked whether she had got relief from the government, she replied in the negative and said: "I am struggling for the last one and a half months, but nobody had told me about any support."
"Nearly one month ago, a young man had enlisted my name with my mobile number and a copy of the national ID card, assuring me of giving government support. But I've not received any response yet," Nilufar, the grim-faced woman who lost her job amid the Covid-19 pandemic, told the FE.
When this correspondent was talking with this woman in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Sunday, some eight other children, young, middle-aged and elderly women came to him and shared almost the same experiences of the government's relief support.
Nasima, a 23-year-old woman who also lost her garment factory job one and a half months ago, said: "About three weeks ago a person had enlisted my name with my phone number and a copy of my NID card. But I've not got any relief or support yet."
"I am now begging on the streets in Mirpur-12 area for feeding my one and a half-year-old child and my husband. He has also lost his garment factory job," Nasima told this correspondent with tears in her eyes.
Like Nasima and Nilufar, Rahela Akhter, a 47-year-old woman, who worked as a part-time housemaid, Sohely, a 31-year-old, who worked at a garment factory, and Kohinoor, a 17-year-old girl, who worked as a housemaid at a home in Mirpur-12 area, shared the same experiences with the FE.
This correspondent conducted a study on a random sampling basis in some areas in Dhaka city, including Mohammadpur, Rampura, Matikata, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Rajabazar, Basabo, Jatrabari, Purana Paltan and Mirpur-1, during the last several days.
Hundreds of floating people were noticed on the streets, and many of them told the same story to the FE.
Halima, a 51-year-old part-time housemaid who lost her job at Rajabazar, said with wet eyes on Tuesday that she did not have a penny to buy food on the day, although she had to feed her 61-year-old ailing husband, suffering from kidney diseases.
"I can neither feed my husband nor give him any treatment. Give me some money, so that I can buy rice and potatoes for preparing today's meal," she told this correspondent.
When asked about the government support, she said her name, phone number and NID card copy had been taken by a person about 2-3 weeks ago.
"But I've not got any support yet. We remain almost half-fed every day. A number of rich people live in buildings around my shanty, but nobody inquires about our condition."
"I had tried to work in those buildings as a part-time maid, but the house-owners refused to allow me work fearing coronavirus infection," Halima added.
Munir, a pick-up driver in Jatrabari area, on Wednesday said he had enlisted himself with the local city corporation authority more than a month ago for getting some support.
"But I've not received any support, and my pick-up service has been remaining halted for the last two months," he told the FE.
When asked, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md. Shah Kamal told the FE on Wednesday that they had allocated adequate rice and cash for distribution among the poor and coronavirus-affected people in addition to the government's ongoing relief activities.
"If anybody is left out of the relief support, s/he can contact the local government and administration offices or can contact us (the ministry) directly. We will look into the matter immediately," he said.
Regarding enlistment of newly affected people, Mr Kamal said: "We have already prepared a database of some 12.5 million families across the country. We will use QR code for distributing relief and the government support." It was set to start on Thursday.
Mr Kamal, however, admitted that some people were getting support, both from the government and from the private sector as well. "But it may happen that some are still left behind."
"The new database will help us ensure avoiding repetition and establish a transparent and accountable relief mechanism of the government during this pandemic and in the days ahead too."
According to him, the government will provide 20 kg rice to 10 million families, out of 12.5 million families in the database, in May and June to weather the Coronavirus pandemic impact.
Among the 10 million, 5.0 million most vulnerable families across the country will get Tk 2,500 as cash support in May.
"The remaining 2.5 million families are getting different types of support under the ongoing social safety-net programmes of the government. So, these families will not come under the upcoming programme," Mr Kamal added.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, a total of 0.154 million tonnes of rice and Tk 676.37 million in cash had been distributed to the 64 district authorities and city corporations until May 11 for handover to the affected people as relief.
Of the allocations, a total of 6,203 tonnes of rice and Tk 45.799 million had been allocated for distribution in Dhaka district and Dhaka city.
Besides, a total of Tk 175.40 million had been allocated from the ministry to the district authorities and city corporations for distributing baby foods to the affected families.
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