RANGPUR, April 24, 2020 (BSS) – A total of 800 jobless, distressed and helpless families of Chandanpat union in Rangpur Sadar upazila received eight tonnes of rice allocated by the government to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
“We already completed distribution of eight tonnes of rice with 10-kg among each of the beneficiary families in two phases till Thursday,” Chairman of Chandanpat union parishad Md. Amenur Rahman told BSS today.
The government through the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and local district administration allocated the rice in two phases for distribution among the jobless and needy people of all nine wards in Chandanpat union.
“Under the special relief programme of the government amid COVID-19 situation, we got three tonnes of general relief rice for 300 distressed families in the first phase and five tonnes of rice for 500 families in the second phase,” Amenur said.
As per the official procedure, nine members of nine general wards and three female members of three reserved wards of Chandanpat union parishad prepared lists of the jobless, distressed and needy families.
Later, the allocated rice was distributed in separate informal functions arranged on Chandanpat union parishad premises by a strict monitoring system and maintaining physical distancing in presence of the officials concerned.
“On Thursday, we distributed five tonnes of rice allocated by the government in the second phase among 500 distressed families with 10-kg of rice and one piece of pumpkin each in a function on the union parishad premises,” Amenur said.
Rangpur Sadar Upazila Chairman Nasima Zaman Boby, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Israt Sadia Shumi, Sadar Upazila Cooperative Officer (Tag Officer) Jahangir Alam and Sub-inspector of Sadar Kotwali Thana Mamun attended the function.
Female member of Chandanpat union parishad Tara Begum appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for distribution of rice and other assistance among the jobless and destitute people to assist them in the wake of COVID-19 situation.
Talking to BSS, Chandanpat union Chairman Amenur Rahman said he also distributed foodstuffs from his own resources among low income group middle class honourable families in recent days as they can not ask assistance from anyone.
“I distributed five-kg of rice, 2-kg of potato, 500 grams of lentil and one kg of edible oil and other food items from my own fund among each of the 150 lower middle class families of my union secretly at their doorsteps late at night,” he added.