The government is devising an insurance policy for its officials and employees, who are directly involved in the fight against the deadly coronavirus, sources have said.
The state-owned Jiban Bima Corporation (JBC) has submitted a proposal in this regard in a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Sunday.
Finance Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder presided over the meeting that scrutinised the proposal.
Sources said in the recent days several government officials, including doctors, who worked as frontline fighters, fell ill after being exposed to the coronavirus.
This has triggered panic among the government employees, and some have expressed their reluctance to continue as frontline fighters.
Already some field-level officials and doctors, supposed to remain actively involved in the frontline battle, were found abstaining from their duties.
Amid such a situation, the government moved to launch a special insurance policy to encourage its officials to remain active amid the pandemic.
"Actually we want to extend the necessary psychological support. We want to show that the government is with them and their family members," a senior MoF official told the FE.
He said since the COVID-19 is a viral disease, anyone involved in the fight against the pandemic can be infected any time, and this has made the government employees scared.
"If they are offered the insurance coverage, they will feel mentally strong and will work efficiently," he expressed the hope.
Finance Division Joint Secretary Shirajun Noor Chowdhury said they will soon finalise modalities of the insurance coverage policy.
"But, we have to work more on the JBC's proposal (before that)," he told the FE.
Additional Secretary of Financial Institution Division Zafar Iqbal said the government employees, who are now staying at home, will not come under the insurance policy coverage.
He said the JBC will provide the insurance coverage, and its proposal is now under Finance Division's consideration. The insurance scheme will be finalised in consultation with the minister concerned, he added.
Last week, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina announced incentives for physicians, healthcare providers and field-level officials, who are directly involved in the war against COVID-19.
The PM said she wants to reward those who are directly engaged in the fight against the COVID-19.
Until Sunday, some 621 people were tested coronavirus positive and 34 succumbed to infection in Bangladesh.
