RAJSHAHI, May 27, 2020 (BSS) – The government has, so far, distributed
18,965 tonnes of rice and around Taka 11.67 crore in cash among the families
in need in Rajshahi division as part of its instant humanitarian support to
tackle the present COVID-19 related troubled situation.
Around 25.21 lakh jobless and distressed households comprising over 1.13
crore population received the rice and cash support amid the hardships being
caused by the pandemic in all eight districts in the division till 8am today.
Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Commissioner of Rajshahi Division, said each of
16,48,427 families received 10 kilograms of rice while another 8,73,416
families got Taka 1,000 in cash for baby food and other emergency expenses
each amid the crisis in all eight districts in the division.
A total of 2,817 tonnes of rice and over Taka 1.68 crore in cash are in the
stock at present for distribution in line with the present uninterrupted
efforts of reaching the relief assistance among the affected people.
Meanwhile, 2,183.14 tonnes of rice and 12,091.26 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 Tuesday last, said Raihanul Kabir, regional controller of
food.
Besides, 1,21,547.15 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 378 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 3,950 packets of cooked foods
benefiting around 1.39 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 was
completed very recently.
Various other government and non-government entities are distributing
foodstuffs among the needy families to cope with the troubled situation.
On the other hand, 69,191 personal protective equipment (PPE) have, so far,
been 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 935 doctors and 1,669 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.