RAJSHAHI, May 8, 2020 (BSS) – As part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to cope with the present troubled situation, over 13.57 lakh jobless and other helpless families have, so far, been given relief materials in Rajshahi division.
In line with the present relentless efforts of reaching foodstuffs to all the worst affected people, 14,591.85 tonnes of rice were distributed among the families in need, said Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of Rajshahi division.
He said the beneficiary families were given ten kilograms of rice each in all eight districts in the division till 8 am today.
More than Taka 8.21 crore in cash was also distributed among 7,30,789 families in the division for baby feed purposes and necessary other expenses amidst the present adverse impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Besides, 2,041.30 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.49 crore in cash are in stock at present for distribution.
Around 7,73,026 poor and extreme poor households were given 48,000 tonnes of rice under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme” in the last two months.
Apart from, 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 development entities have intensified their activities of dispensing foodstuffs among the affected families everywhere in the division to tackle the present adverse situation.
With their personal initiatives, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Superintendent of Police Muhammad Shahidullah are seen distributing iftar packets and cooked foods among the distressed people for the last couple of weeks here.
As part of the government’s continuous efforts of ensuring food support to all the helpless households, RCC has disbursed rice among 9,172 members of 33 professional bodies in Rajshahi city to deal with the present adverse situation.
Mayor 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.
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, 51,315 personal protective equipment (PPE) were distributed among the frontline medical workforces to handle the COVID-19 pandemic through protecting them from the virus infection in the division. 33,534 more PPEs remain 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 cope with the adverse situation through enforcing the restrictive measures everywhere in the division.