Staff Reporter: Financial assistance has been given to 1,947 indigent artists and artisans from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund. According to the Prime Minister's Press Wing, a total of Tk 4867,500 has been given to 1,947 artists, crew, producers, directors and employees of various categories of Film sector, Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund.

Among the financial aid recipients of the Prime Minister are 165 employees of Bangladesh Television (BTV) Cameraman Association of Bangladesh, 42 employees of Bangladesh Shooting House Owners Association, 117 members of Shooting Unit Microbus Driver Cooperative Society, 447 members of Bangladesh Media Lightmen Association, 2,500 Tk have been donated.

231 members of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation's Bangladesh Film Artists Association, 80 members of Bangladesh Film Designers Association, 42 members of Bangladesh Film Decorators Association, 15 members of Bangladesh Film Assistant Art Directors Association, 88 members of Bangladesh Media Lightman Association, 35 members of Cine Fixed Photographers Association, Bangladesh. 256 members of the Film Assistant Managers' Association, 325 employees of the Cinema Hall and 3 employees of the Directors Guild were given 2,500 Tk.

Zayed Khan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Film Artists Association, thanked the Prime Minister for standing by the artists and artisans in difficult times. He said that by standing by their sides in this difficult time, she has proved once again that she (Sheikh Hasina) is the leader of humanity, she is the Mother of Humanity.

The film sector has come to a standstill like other sectors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many workers of this field became indigent due to the closure of drama-cinema production as well as the closure of cinema halls. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has been providing financial assistance of Tk 2,500 to 5 million indigent people who have lost their jobs.

Besides, the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has so far announced 21 incentive packages worth Tk 1,12,633 crore (4.3 percent of GDP) to save lives and ensure livelihoods from the Covid-19 pandemic.