ZCZC
BSS-12
COVID-FOOD-SECURITY (with picture)
54.48 lakh people get relief support in Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI, May 5, 2020 (BSS) – More than 54.48 lakh people of around 11.94
lakh jobless and other destitute families have, so far, been brought under
relief support aimed at coping with the present financial hardship being
caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
“We have distributed 13,094.85 tonnes of rice among the families in need as
a part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to tackle the present
crisis till 8 am today,” said Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of
Rajshahi division, adding that each of the beneficiary families got ten
kilograms of rice in all eight districts in the division.
Taka 7.40 crore in cash was also distributed among 6,46,141 families in the
division for baby feed purposes and necessary other expenses. Apart from,
2,338.30 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.50 crore in cash are in stock at
present for distribution.
He said all the district and upazila administrations in close-coordination
with the local government institutions are distributing the rice.
Around 7,73,026 poor and extreme poor households were given 48,000 tonnes of
rice under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme” in last two months.
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.
Humayun Kabir said various other local government bodies and non-government
entities are disbursing foodstuffs among the distressed families everywhere in
the division daily to cope with the present troubled situation.
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has disbursed 60,000 kilograms of rice among
9,172 members of 33 professional bodies in Rajshahi city to tackle the present
adverse impact of the global pandemic.
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
recently.
Each of the beneficiary families was given 10 kilograms of rice at their
respective doorstep as the government had allocated 210 tonnes of rice.
The city corporation also dispensed another 123 tonnes of rice among 12,300
hand-to-mouth families in the city from the government allocation.
Apart from this, RCC has provided foodstuffs to around 45,000 daily families
in need in two phases to cope with the present troubled situation.
On the other hand, 45,139 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 34,626 more PPEs in stock for distribution.
Besides, more than four lakh emergency medicines were distributed with
21,400 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
prepared for treatment of the 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/SPL/AH/MMA/1500HRS