Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities concerned to provide food aid to people, who have lost their means of daily income, due to the ongoing 10-day shutdown.

Beggars, day labourers, rickshaw-pullers, transport workers, hawkers, tea stall owners have been mentioned as the beneficiaries in a statement issued by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The premier has instructed authorities to prepare lists of people – who run their families with daily wages – under city corporations, municipalities, unions, and wards, according to the statement.

District administrators have been asked to prepare lists so that fair distribution is ensured in case affluent people, organisations and non-government organisations show up with donations.

On March 22, the government declared a 10-day shutdown, effective from March 26, to slow the spread of coronavirus in the densely populated country.