Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (April 27) said educational institutions in the country will remain closed till September next.
We will not reopen schools and other educational institutions now, at least till September. These schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed as coronavirus prevalence continues, she said.
The Prime Minister said this while holding a videoconference with the public representatives and officials of districts under Rajshahi division over COVID-19 from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The districts are Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Rajshahi and Sirajganj.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and some private TV channels and radio stations broadcast the videoconference live.
Sheikh Hasina requested the business people, who took loans for operating their business entities, not to be worried about the loan interests.
‘You were doing your business taking loans, but your loans have piled up for the shutdown in these months due to the coronavirus; so don’t think about that (loan interest),’ she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the lending organizations were not supposed to take those interests right now.
After this meeting (videoconference), I wll sit with the Finance Minister, we will consider to suspend the interests (against the loans), we will consider how much we can waive the interests and how much you can repay those regularly. You do not need to be gripped by anxiety, she said.
Keeping people alive maintaining the ways of lives and livelihood is the major challenge right now, Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said the government is gradually relaxing the less affected areas where the coronavirus is yet to spread largely. We’re giving our attention to those areas so that people could lead a normal life and carry out their trade and business, she added.