Covid-19

Innovative and Humanitarian Role of Field Administration in Managing the Challenges of Pandemic Situation at the Grassroots Level

Abstract

Since January 2020, the effects of the outbreak of the pandemic began to be felt in different sectors of the
economy of Bangladesh. Timely and appropriate steps taken by our government through field administration
and their effective implementation, Bangladesh has been able to successfully overcome the catastrophic
situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic. We know Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has
so far infected countless people worldwide and caused about 6.3 million deaths. The whole world was
devastated by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Field administration, under the leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, has provided many humanitarian services during the pandemic period as well as
adopted various services including coronavirus vaccination program for all and thus saved Bangladesh from
massive loss of lives. As directed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government formulated a comprehensive
program with short, medium, and long-term goals consisting of four main strategic blocks to address the crisis
and its adverse effects on the economy which was implemented through field administration. This study
investigates the performance appraisal of Field Administration from the service receivers’ point of view,
impacts of service delivery in terms of maintaining good health, food security, fight against Covid-19,
overcoming poverty, generating employment opportunity etc. It is worth mentioning that finally, this study finds
positive perception and supportive response from grassroots people due to services provided to them during
pandemic by the field administration.