RAJSHAHI, May 9, 2020 (BSS) – Over 13.62 lakh hand-to-mouth and jobless families have been given relief materials as part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to cope with the present troubled situation caused by novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said 14,591.85 tonnes of rice were distributed among the families in need in line with the present relentless efforts of reaching foodstuffs to all the worst affected people.
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 7,33,789 families in the division for baby feed purposes and necessary other expenses amidst the present adverse impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Besides, 2,291.30 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.68 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” over 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 been dispensing foodstuffs among the worst-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 relentless efforts of ensuring food support to all the helpless families, RCC has started providing relief supports to 11,100 more jobless and other less-incoming households with foodstuffs as part of its relentless efforts of coping with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The targeted families are being given ten kilograms of rice, one kilogram of pulse, two kilograms of potato and one kilogram of pumpkin each.
Mayor Liton told BSS that the foodstuffs were already handed over to 37 organizational leaders of the city unit of Bangladesh Awami League from the city bhaban storage for distribution among the communities within the shortest possible time.
Earlier, he distributed 223 tonnes of rice, 41 tonnes of pulse and 52 tonnes of potato among 45,000 families in need with assistance of the city’s affluent people.
Apart from, the city corporation has dispensed 513 tonnes of rice among 51,500 hand-to-mouth families from the government allocation.
“We are distributing the relief materials among the jobless people as part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to cope with the present troubled situation,” Mayor Liton said, adding the assistance will continue until the troubled situation is removed.
On the other hand, 52,073 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. 34,336 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.