ZCZC
BSS-13
CORONA-FOOD-DISTRIBUTION (with picture)
12,500 tonnes of rice distributed in Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI, May 4, 2020 (BSS)- A total of 12,500.68 tonnes of rice have, so far, been distributed among 11,59,864 daily wage earning and other hand-to-mouth families aimed at mitigating their hardship related to livelihood being caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
“Each of the beneficiary families was given ten kilograms of rice equally in all eight districts in the division till 8 am today,” said Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of Rajshahi division, adding over Taka 7.00 crore in cash were distributed among 6,33,223 families in the division.
He also said 2,382.47 more tonnes of rice and Taka 1.49 crore in cash are in stock at present for distribution.
On the other hand, 13,269.24 tonnes of rice has been distributed among the families in need at Taka 10 per kilogram.
Besides, 7.73 lakh poor and extreme poor households were given 48,000 tonnes of rice under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme” in the last two months.
Another 4,500 tonnes of rice are also 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.
Meanwhile, various other institutions, organizations and volunteers have intensified their foodstuffs distribution among the distressed families in the region.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has disbursed rice among the daily wage earning and other hand-to-mouth families to tackle the present adverse impact of the pandemic.
RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said 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.
On the other hand, 38,382 personal protective equipment (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 24,709 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 19 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.
BSS/AH/MMA/1500HRS