RAJSHAHI, May 20, 2020 (BSS) – Around 1.09 crore people of over 24.31 lakh jobless and hand-to-mouth families in Rajshahi division have, so far, received rice and cash support to handle their hardships being caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said 18,429 tonnes of rice and Taka 11.09 crore in cash were distributed among the families in need as part of the government’s instant humanitarian support to cope with the present troubled situation.
Each of 16,03,645 families received 10 kilograms of rice while another 8,28,051 families got the cash support for baby food purpose and other urgent expenses amid the COVID-19 pandemic in all eight districts in the division till 8am today.
A total of 2,053 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.33 crore in cash are in the stock at present for distribution.
Meanwhile, 2,181.24 tonnes of rice and 12,089.54 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 Tuesday last, said Raihanul Kabir, regional controller of food.
Besides, 1,18,340.94 tonnes of rice was distributed among 7,73,026 poor and extreme poor households under the government’s “Food Friendly Programme” till the same day.
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 continuously.
Rajshahi City Corporation has, so far, disbursed 375 tonnes of rice, five tonnes of flour, 64 tonnes of pulse, 67 tonnes of potato, 2,000 packets of baby food, 300 tonnes of seasonal vegetables and 1,500 packets of cooked foods benefiting among around 1.30 lakh jobless and poor families in the city.
Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said foodstuffs will also be distributed among 7,400 people as the gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
On the other hand, 65,070 personal protective equipment (PPE) were distributed among the frontline healthcare workforces to handle the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting them from the virus infection. There are 46,530 more PPE in stock for distribution.
A total of 816 doctors and 1,547 nurses are working in 172 public and private hospitals in the division. Around 1,914 beds, out of the total 4,899, have already been prepared for treatment of the possible COVID-19 infected patients.
There are arrangements of 462 beds in isolation units here and 19 ambulances for emergency transportation and treatment of the infected patients.