ZCZC
BSS-11
CORONA-HUMANITARIAN-RELIEF (with picture)
1.13cr people get rice, cash amid COVID-19 in Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI, May 25, 2020 (BSS) – Around 1.13 crore people of more than 25.11
lakh jobless and low-income households have, so far, received rice and cash
aid for mitigating their livelihood related hardships induced by the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rajshahi division.
The government, as part of its instant humanitarian support to tackle the
pandemic induced crisis, disbursed 18,965 tonnes of rice and around Taka 11.52
crore in cash among the hard hit families in the division.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Khandaker said each of
16,43,427 families received 10 kilograms of rice while another 8,68,416
families got Taka 1,000 in cash for baby food and other urgent expenses each
amid the crisis in all eight districts in the division till 8am today.
A total of 2,817 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.82 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
families in need under the government’s open market sale (OMS) programme in
the division till Sunday last, said Raihanul Kabir, regional controller of
food.
Besides, 1,21,544.98 tonnes of rice was distributed among 7,73,026 enlisted
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 376 tonnes of rice, five
tonnes of flour, 64 tonnes of pulse, 67 tonnes of potato, 2,000 packets of
baby food, 350 tonnes of seasonal vegetables and 3,800 packets of cooked foods
benefiting around 1.37 lakh jobless and poor families in the city.
Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said distribution of foodstuffs among 7,400
people as the gift of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the Eid-ul-Fitr is
in the final stage.
On the other hand, 69,191 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 46,194 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.
BSS/AH/MMA/1443HRS