Keeping up the good work

While the entire country continues to be affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there is no doubt that it has been the poor and the most vulnerable among us that have been disproportionately affected, with too many struggling to make ends meet.

To that end, it is good to see that the Dhaka North City Corporation has remembered these people, and has distributed food and relief to over 500,000 families. In addition, DNCC has also continued to disinfect the city through spraying disinfectants.

This is the kind of response that is expected of city corporations and their members. Every citizen, regardless of socio-economic status, is important and integral, and when a pandemic threatens their very existence, it is up to the authorities to be able to care for them.

It is well documented that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the already meagre income generated by a large majority of the people of Dhaka, with the informal sector practically coming to a standstill in the wake of the lockdown restrictions.

During such times, the authorities concerned must remember these destitute people, and it is good to see that DNCC is doing its part.

However, the threat of the coronavirus is far from over, and these families will continue to require support from those more privileged to help them survive this pandemic. 

This means food and relief distributions will have to continue, and not only continue, but strictly monitored; we have seen numerous reports of theft and mismanagement of resources and relief during the pandemic.

Such actions must be minimized, and those responsible for such actions brought to the book so that the poor do not have to suffer even more than they already are.