Grameenphone today has donated Tk 15 crore to Brac’s emergency food assistance fund, which will help 100,000 families, who have become jobless following the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Each family will receive Tk 1,500 for two weeks’ essential food supplies, the leading mobile carrier said in an online video conference said.

It is part of a joint initiative, “Dakche Amar Desh” (My Nation Calls), by the world renowned non-government organisation Brac and telco Grameephone. During the conference, they said the ongoing social distancing drive and restriction on movement due to the Covid-19 pandemic is taking a toll on people who survive on daily wages and live in extreme poverty. According to a nationwide survey by Brac among 2,675 low-income people in 64 districts, it wasseen that 14 percent of low-income families do not have food at home. Due to the general holidays and lockdowns to enforce social distancing measures, 72 percent of the respondents reported job loss or reduced work opportunities.