ZCZC
BSS-01
CORONA-RELIEF-RANGPUR (with picture)
21,684 tonnes of rice, Tk 13.30cr being distributed in Rangpur
RANGPUR, June 13, 2020 (BSS) – The government continues distributing 21,684 tonnes of rice and Taka 13.30 crore among the jobless, distressed and needy families in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Rangpur division.
“We have already distributed 19,348 tonnes of rice and Taka 11.51 crore among 18.68 lakh beneficiary families benefitting 76 lakh jobless and poor people in the division,” Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain told BSS.
So far, a total of 18.68 lakh families have received 19,348 tonnes of rice while 16.10 lakh among the total beneficiary families also got Taka 11.51 crore in terms of cash money, essential food items or baby foods in the division.
The government has allocated the rice and money under the special social safety network for the jobless families of all eight districts in the division to stand beside them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The district administrations in the division have stocks of 2,336 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.79 crore as the government continues allocating more rice and money frequently as a gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Zakir Hossain said.
The local administrations with assistance of the union level public representatives are distributing the rice and money under stringent monitoring systems strictly maintaining physical distance to prevent community spread of COVID-19.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said distribution of 4,829 tonnes of rice and Taka 2.17 crore among 3.59 lakh families completed in Rangpur City Corporation area, three municipalities and eight upazilas of the district.
“We have a stock of 199 tonnes of rice and Taka 19.74 lakh,” he said, adding that the government is bringing all jobless and needy people under the special social safety network till the COVID-19 situation becomes normal.
Kurigram DRRO Dilip Kumar Saha said distribution of 2,712 tonnes of rice among 2.71 lakh families and Taka 1.72 crore among 25,333 families of the total beneficiary families in all nine upazilas of the district has already been completed.
“Currently, we have a stock of 188 tonnes of rice and Taka 27.36 lakh for distribution among the needy people across the district,” Saha added.
Similarly, distribution of 2,776 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.28 crore among 3.12 lakh families in Dinajpur and 1,772 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.16 crore among 2.29 lakh families in Thakurgaon districts completed.
The administrations distributed 1,567 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.05 crore among 1.56 lakh families in Lalmonirhat and 2,083 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.44 crore among 2.17 lakh families in Gaibandha districts.
Besides, distribution of 1.609 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.21 crore among 1.67 lakh families in Nilphamari and 2,000 tonnes of rice and Taka 1.46 crore among 1.87 lakh families in Panchagarh districts completed by Friday.
Talking to BSS, Chairman of Nohali union in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur Abul Kalam Azad Titul said he already distributed 39 tonnes of government rice among 3,900 distressed, river-eroded, jobless families of the union with 10 kg of rice each.
Chairman of Saddyapuskorini union in Rangpur Sadar upazila Alhaj Md. Sohel Rana said he already distributed 34 tonnes of government rice among 3,400 families of his union and is currently distributing six tonnes of more rice.
Talking to BSS, jobless people Sabina Begum, Chand Mian, Amina Khatun, Asma Begum, Nur Banu and others of different villages in the district and Rangpur city thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for standing beside them amid COVID-19 pandemic.
BSS/SPL/MI/MMA/1100HRS