I am Sharariar from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I am a businessman, I have a shop which is closed now for lockdown. I have some online business too, they are also closed for now because I don’t have any delivery man. I gave them their wages and told them to stay home as the government says.

The local people of Bangladesh don’t want to understand the importance of staying home. Our government first introduced a 10-day shutdown on 26th March. Which now extends to 25th April. In line with this, on 11 April, it was communicated that all public transport services will be suspended until 25 April. The government asks people to stay home in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. But soon after the 24th March announcement, people started leaving the capital for their village homes in droves.

On 1 April 2020, the finance ministry unveiled the guidelines for disbursement of the Tk 5,000 crore stimulus package. Businesses can avail themselves funds from the package at 2% interest to pay their worker’s salaries for up to three months. The salaries must be paid to either a bank or mobile financial account. On 5 April, the Prime Minister announced four fresh financial stimulus packages of TK 67,750 crore. The PM said the government simultaneously developed four programs under the plan, to be implemented in phases categorized as Immediate, Short, and Long. On 25 March, the Bangladesh Government sought $1 billion in support from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as the country looks to support its people, businesses, and industries reeling from the pandemic.

Some business owners come forward to help needy people in this time. Which is so good. I also helped 15 families by buying them one month’s necessities. I will invite all the people around the world to help the needy people in this pandemic.

I am at the end of my story. The business situation is not good in Bangladesh. The situation will be worse if we don’t follow the government announcements. So in order to stay safe, we have to stay home.