RAJSHAHI, May 2, 2020 (BSS) – Around 11.40 lakh daily wage earning and hand-to-mouth families were given relief support to tackle financial need in all eight districts of Rajshahi division amid coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Rajshahi divisional commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said 12,111.68 tonnes of rice has been distributed as a part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to mitigate the economic hardship caused by coronavirus pandemic till 8 am today. Each family in need got 10 kilograms of rice.
Another Taka 6.77 crore in cash was also distributed among 6,23,433 families for the purpose of baby food and other necessary expenses in the division. Besides, more 2,421.47 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.44 crore in cash are in stock at present for distribution.
Besides, 4,500 tonnes of rice is being distributed among the families in need under the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) Programme. Each of 1.5 lakh beneficiary families is getting 30 kilograms of rice every month free of cost.
All the upazila administrations in close-coordination with the local government institutions are distributing the rice.
Various other institutions, organizations and volunteers are distributing foodstuffs among the distressed families in the region.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has disbursed 60,000 kilograms of rice among 9,172 badly affected members of 33 professional bodies in Rajshahi city to tackle the present adverse impact of the pandemic very recently.
RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said another 21,000 jobless and other low-income families were brought under the emergency food support in the city areas to minimize their hardship as a gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Around 20,000 less-income families in Rajshahi city were given food assistance to overcome the tough situation.
Liton said each of the beneficiary households was given 10 kilograms of rice and 500 grams of pulse.
On the other hand, 38,281 personal protective equipments (PPE) were distributed among the frontline healthcare workforces to handle the COVID-19 pandemic through protecting them from the virus infection in the division. There are 21,400 more PPEs in stock for distribution.
A total of 808 doctors and 1,512 nurses are working in 172 public and private hospitals in the division. Around 1,888 beds, out of total 4,149, were already prepared for treatment of the possible COVID-19 infected patients.
There are arrangements of 220 beds in isolation units here and 17 ambulances for the purpose of emergency transporting and treatment of the infected patients.
Meanwhile, the civil administration, armed forces and law-enforcement agencies remained active to deal with the adverse situation through enforcing the restrictive measures.