Defying govt directive, elderly people gather at Sonali Bank in Sylhet

Around 200 elderly people today were seen gathering in front of Dargah Gate branch of Sonali Bank in Sylhet city to collect their old-age allowance, defying the government directive on avoiding large gathering as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

At least 400 people went to the Sonali Bank branch between 9:00am and 4:00pm today to collect their allowances, most of them aged 60 years or above, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting the branch manager Himangshu Acharya.

Talking to some of the elderly people on the bank premises, this correspondent found them not aware of the coronavirus outbreak and the government's cautionary measures in this regard.

"I don't know anything about the coronavirus and the government's preventive measures in this regard," 80-year-old Sikandar Ali told The Daily Star.

"I had to come to the bank to collect my allowance. What else could have I done?" he added.

Brozendra Biswas, 60, and Narendra Biswas, 70, who had to wait for at least three hours in the queue to collect their allowance, also echoed the same.

"I had informed the Sylhet District Social Services office seeking directives to deal with the issue, but did not get any immediate response," Branch Manager Himangshu said.

Similar gathering will likely take place again on March 22, 23 and 24 as the elderly people will come on those dates to collect their allowance, he said.

"It will be better for the people if the authority announces temporary closure on giving the allowance," Himangshu added.

"I informed the respective authorities and we have decided to announce closure on giving the allowance, which will remain effective until further notice," said Nibash Ranjan Das, deputy director of the Sylhet District Social Services office.