RAJSHAHI, May 18, 2020 (BSS) – A total of 17,504 tonnes of rice has, so
far, been distributed among 15,90,095 daily wage earning and other hand-to-
mouth families to mitigate their hardships related to livelihood amid the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
“Each of the needy families was given 10 kilograms of rice as part of the
government’s instant humanitarian support to cope with the present troubled
situation in all eight districts in the division till 8 am today,” said
Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of Rajshahi division.
Over Taka 10.05 crore in cash was also distributed among 8,01,691 families
in the division, he said, adding that 1,978 more tonnes of rice and Taka 1.68
crore in cash are also in stock at present for distribution.
Meanwhile, 1,812.85 tonnes of rice and 12,035.56 tonnes of flour have been
distributed at Taka 10 and Taka 18 per kilogram respectively among the needy
families under the government’s open market sale (OMS) programme in the
division till sunday to cope with the present troubled situation, said
Raihanul Kabir, Regional Controller of Food.
Besides, 1,15,782.5 tonnes of rice was distributed among 7,73,026 poor and
extreme poor households under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme” .
Another 4,500 tonnes of rice is also being distributed among the needy
families under the Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme, Raihanul
Kabir said, adding that each of 1.5 lakh beneficiary families is getting 30
kilograms of rice every month free of cost.
Rajshahi City Corporation has, so far, disbursed 375 tonnes of rice, five
tones of flour, 64 tonnes of pulse, 67 tonnes of potato, 2,000 packets of
baby food, 300 tonnes of seasonal vegetables and 1,200 packets of cooked
foods benefiting among around 1.30 lakh jobless and poor families in the
city.
Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said they distributed the relief materials
among the families in need at the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Foodstuffs will also be distributed among 7,400 people as the gift of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina before the Eid-ul-Fitr, he added.
On the other hand, 65,066 personal protective equipments (PPE) were
distributed among the frontline healthcare workforces to handle the COVID-19
pandemic by protecting them from the virus infection in the division. There
are 43,179 more PPE 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 1,914 beds, out of the total 4,949,
have already been prepared for treatment of the possible COVID-19 infected
patients.
There are arrangements of 220 beds in isolation units here and 19
ambulances for emergency transportation and treatment of the infected
patients.