RANGPUR, Dec 6, 2019 (BSS) – The government has sold 76,233 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kg among 8.47 lakh beneficiary families benefiting them in the last three months under ‘The food-friendly program’ in Rangpur division.
Rangpur Regional Controller of Food Mohammad Raihanul Kabir said every card holder family purchased 30 kg rice at Taka 10 per kg every month for September, October and November after getting the same for March and April early this year.
“More than 8.47 lakh ultra poor families were benefited getting rice at a very low price of Taka 10 per kg for three months during the just ended seasonal lean period in all eight districts of Rangpur division,” he said.
Under the program, the government through the Department of Food sold over 25,411 tonnes of rice every month to 8.47 lakh card holder families of Rangpur division this time like in the previous three years.
“The program is running smoothly bringing relief to the poor during five-month lean periods every year in two phases since September 7, 2016 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the initiative under the social safety net scheme,” Kabir said.
Eight lakh 47 thousand and 43 card holder beneficiary families of 534 unions in all 58 upazilas of eight districts in Rangpur division got the rice at Taka 10 per kg through 1,473 appointed village ration dealers.
“Some 1.45 lakh card holder families of Rangpur, 1.11 lakh of Gaibandha, 1.41 lakh of Kurigram, 58,730 of Lalmonirhat, 1.32 lakh of Nilphamari, 1.36 lakh of Dinajpur, 50,466 of Panchagarh and 67,070 families of Thakurgaon got rice under the program,” he added.
Talking to BSS, farm-labourer Anwara Begum of village Joyram in Saddyapuskorini union of Rangpur Sadar upazila said she bought 30 kg rice every month for the last three months to meet food demand of her family members.
Day-labourer Aklima Khatun of village Lahirirhat in Chandanpat union of Rangpur Sadar upazila said she received 30 kg rice at Taka 10 per kg every month for September, October and November last to feed her family members.
Female Member of Haridebpur union in Rangpur Sadar upazila Bharoti Rani said all poor farm-labourers of her native village Gangadas Baraipara got 30 kg rice every month for three months at Taka 10 per kg to feed their family members.
Chandanpat union Chairman Amenur Rahman said he distributed 165.33 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kg among 1,837 card holder families of his union with 55.11 tonnes of rice every month for last three months.
Haridebpur union Chairman Iqbal Hossain said he distributed 209.25 tonnes of rice at Taka 10 per kg among 2,325 card holder families of his union with 69.75 tonnes of rice every month for the last three months.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said selling of rice at Taka 10 per kg among the poor helped them to lead a normal life during the seasonal lean period in Rangpur division.